90% of Iran’s Crude Exports at Kharg: Conflict Sparks Climate and Spill Fears

As the U.S. threatens to seize Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal, environmental experts warn of catastrophic spills and emissions from damaged infrastructure, while the conflict risks setting back global clean energy transitions. Kharg Island handles 90% of Iran’s crude exports, and any attack on its terminals could release massive oil spills into the Persian Gulf, mirroring the 1991 Gulf War disaster. Moreover, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and strikes on tankers risk burning vessels and uncontrolled emissions, while the Iranian parliament speaker’s warning of ‘exploding energy infrastructure’ signals that the entire regional fossil fuel network could become a battlefield, diverting investment from renewables to energy security.

The United States’ military conflict with Iran entered a perilous new chapter on June 11, 2026, as President Donald Trump openly threatened to seize Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal, while U.S. forces continued airstrikes for a third consecutive night. The threat, broadcast on social media, marks a dramatic escalation beyond the two-month-old ceasefire and a shift toward explicit U.S. control of foreign energy assets, directly comparing the planned seizure to earlier actions in Venezuela. Kharg Island’s deep-water terminals handle roughly 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports, making it the single most critical node in Iran’s petroleum infrastructure. The U.S. Navy had already implemented a blockade that choked off most Iranian oil shipments, and Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed strikes on three tankers this week attempting to transport Iranian oil, resulting in the first known seafarer deaths—three Indian crew members. In response, Iran’s maritime authority closed the Strait of Hormuz to all traffic, effectively blocking the transit of an estimated 21 million barrels per day of crude and condensate, which represents about 21% of global petroleum consumption.

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Brent crude futures are already climbing toward the $120 per barrel mark, with analysts projecting spikes to $150 or more if the Hormuz closure persists.

The immediate operational picture is one of rapidly expanding conflict. CENTCOM reported strikes on Iranian surveillance, communication, and air defense systems across southern Iran, while Iran retaliated with attacks on nearby Gulf nations, raising fears that the fighting cannot be contained. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most vital oil chokepoint, has sent shockwaves through energy markets and global supply chains. Even without a ground invasion of Kharg Island—which analysts say would almost certainly require U.S. ground troops—the action has already triggered a logistical nightmare for tanker operators, who face war-risk insurance premium spikes, rerouting around the Arabian Peninsula, and direct military threats. The U.S. military’s public announcement of future operations signals a departure from operational secrecy, adding an unusual psychological dimension to the crisis.

The historical context deepens the significance. Kharg Island is not merely an export terminal; it is the linchpin of Iran’s entire oil industry, with onshore storage, processing facilities, and a long history of being targeted during the Iran-Iraq War. The current campaign echoes the so-called Tanker War of the 1980s, when both nations attacked commercial shipping. This time, however, the explicit goal is to seize physical control of oil infrastructure and “assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets,” as Trump asserted. The threat comes on top of a blockade that has already starved Iran of oil revenue, potentially crippling its economy. For Iran, the loss of Kharg Island would be an existential economic blow, likely leading to massive retaliation. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf warned that further escalation would “explode energy infrastructure and markets,” a threat that could materialize as attacks on Saudi, Emirati, or Iraqi oil facilities, or as extensive mining of the Strait.