Brian Kilmeade questioned President Donald Trump about potential action on Iran’s Kharg Island during a Thursday radio interview, aired Friday morning—mere hours before U.S. forces struck military targets there.
Trump’s Tense Exchange with Kilmeade
Kilmeade asked Trump directly: ‘Are you thinking about taking Kharg Island, where 90 percent of Iranian oil goes through?’
Trump deflected sharply, stating, ‘I can’t answer a question like that. You shouldn’t ask it. It’s not high on the list, but it’s one of many different things, and I can change my mind in seconds.’
He added, ‘Who would ask a question like that, and what fool would answer it? It’s sort of a foolish question. A little surprising for you, because you’re a smart man. Let’s say I was going to do it or let’s say I wasn’t going to do it, why would I tell you?’
U.S. Military Action on Kharg Island
Trump announced the operation Friday via social media as he headed to Florida. ‘Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every military target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,’ he posted.
He held off on oil infrastructure for now, explaining, ‘For reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. However, 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.’
Trump fielded questions from reporters before boarding Air Force One but skipped details on the strike.
Kharg Island’s Vital Role
This Persian Gulf island, 21 miles off Iran’s coast, serves as the main terminal for nearly all Iranian oil exports. Iran has shipped 13.7 million barrels since the war began on February 28, with tankers loading there as recently as Wednesday, per maritime tracking data.
Oil generates a major portion of Iran’s $78 billion annual revenue, much of it to buyers like China. The island features storage tanks, worker housing, and refineries, making it a prime economic asset.
Warnings from Iran and Calls from Israel
Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, warned Thursday that strikes on southern Gulf islands would end all restraint. ‘Iran will abandon all restraint if the islands come under attack,’ he posted, holding Trump accountable for any American casualties.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid urged targeting Kharg’s energy sites last Sunday, arguing, ‘That is what will cripple Iran’s economy and topple the regime.’
Expert Analysis on Potential Impact
Energy researcher Petras Katinas of the Royal United Services Institute emphasized Kharg’s centrality: ‘It doesn’t matter which regime is in power—new or old. A takeover would give the U.S. leverage over negotiations with Iran because the island is the main node of its economy.’
JPMorgan’s global commodity team noted in a recent report that a direct hit would halt most crude exports, risking retaliation in the Strait of Hormuz or against regional energy assets. ‘The island has often been viewed as a critical vulnerability, yet it has rarely been directly targeted.’
