President Donald Trump announced late Friday that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) carried out one of the most powerful bombing raids in Middle East history, “totally obliterating every MILITARY target” on Iran’s strategic Kharg Island while deliberately avoiding its vital oil facilities.

In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump described the operation as executed “at my direction” and emphasized that the strikes targeted only military assets on the island.

“For reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island,” Trump wrote. However, he issued a direct warning: “should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision.”

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Kharg Island, often called Iran’s “oil lifeline,” is Iran’s primary oil export terminal, handling approximately 90% of the country’s crude shipments—about 2-3 million barrels per day—making it a linchpin of Tehran’s economy. Located in the northern Persian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz, the island has been a focal point in discussions about potential U.S. military actions against Iran.

This comes as Iran has reportedly continued to disrupt international shipping in the Strait, contributing to a surge in global oil prices, with Brent crude exceeding $102 per barrel on Friday.

Trump’s post also highlighted his administration’s military rebuilding efforts, asserting that the U.S. forces are now “the Most Lethal, Powerful, and Effective Force, by far, anywhere in the World.”

Trump claimed Iran has “NO ability to defend anything that we want to attack,” and reiterated his long-standing pledge that “Iran will NEVER have a nuclear weapon, nor will it have the ability to threaten the United States of America, the Middle East or, for that matter, the World!”

The raid is part of Operation Epic Fury, which the United States and Israel initiated as a large-scale joint military operation against Iran. The joint campaign, now in its 14th day, has targeted Iranian missiles, air defenses, navy, proxies, and leadership. 

The White House and officials have described the operation as an “unprecedented military success,” with over 15,000 enemy targets struck to date. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine detailed in a March 13 press conference how Iranian military capabilities are “crumbling,” with air superiority achieved and regime leaders “wiped from the face of the earth” in some cases.

Reports indicate Trump’s interest in Kharg Island dates back decades; in a 1988 interview, he suggested targeting it in response to Iranian aggression.

Recent discussions within the administration have included options for seizing the island or its nuclear-related assets, though Trump reportedly downplayed such priorities in a Friday interview with Fox News Radio, saying it’s “not high on the list” but that he could “change my mind in seconds.”

The U.S. military has bolstered its presence in the region, deploying an additional 2,500 Marines and warships to the Middle East amid escalating tensions, per AP. The conflict has already claimed American lives, with six U.S. crew members killed in a plane crash in Iraq on Thursday — the crew was killed in a KC-135 incident on March 12, not due to hostile fire.

Trump concluded his statement by advising Iran’s military to “lay down their arms, and save what’s left of their country, which isn’t much!” As the conflict intensifies, with strikes hitting Tehran and other sites, the world watches closely for Iran’s response and potential impacts on energy security.

For Texas, home to a robust energy sector, such volatility could have ripple effects, potentially boosting domestic production but also raising concerns about supply chain disruptions and higher fuel costs for consumers.