Strategic Oil Hub Kharg Island Hit by Fresh Strikes as Trump’s Deadline Looms

Tehran/Washington: In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict, Iran’s primary oil export terminal on Kharg Island was rocked by multiple explosions on Tuesday. The strikes occurred just hours before a midnight deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Simultaneously, reports emerged of targeted attacks on critical transit infrastructure within the Iranian mainland, including a strategic rail bridge in the central city of Kashan and a communication bridge near Qom.

Kharg Island Under Fire
Kharg Island, located in the Persian Gulf, handles approximately 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. According to the semi-official Mehr News Agency, the island’s military and logistical sectors were targeted in a “wide-scale wave of strikes.” A senior U.S. official confirmed that the military conducted strikes on specific military targets on the island. President Trump had previously warned that he would authorize the “complete demolition” of Iranian infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz—through which 20% of global oil passes—was not immediately reopened. While early reports suggest the strikes focused on military assets and storage, the proximity to oil loading terminals has sent jitters through global energy markets.

Bridges Blasted: Mainland Infrastructure Targeted
Beyond the coast, the conflict reached deep into Iran’s interior. Regional officials and state media (IRNA) reported that “American-Zionist” projectiles struck key transportation links: Yahya Abad Railway Bridge (Kashan): An attack on this rail link in Isfahan province resulted in at least two deaths and three injuries. The strike followed a direct warning from the Israeli military advising Iranian civilians to stay away from trains. Deputy Governor Morteza Heydari confirmed a bridge on a vital communication line west of Qom was also struck, further disrupting internal logistics.

The “Restraint is Over” Response
In the wake of the attacks, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a stern warning, stating that their “restraint is over.” Tehran has signaled that any further escalation will be met with a response that extends “beyond the region,” heightening fears of a broader Middle East war. The Iranian Culture Minister, Sayed Reza Salihi-Amiri, dismissed the U.S. pressure as “delusional,” maintaining that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to “enemies.”