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Saturday, March 14, 2026  Iran has warned it will destroy oil infrastructure linked to the United States after Washington launched an attack on Tehran's oil lifeline. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that the defense systems on Kharg Island had been completely destroyed. The IRGC confirmed that U.S. forces targeted around 15 sites, including Iran's air defense positions, the Joshen naval base, an airport control tower, and a helicopter pad. However, they insisted that the island's defense systems were operational again within an hour after the strike. The IRGC also emphasized that no oil infrastructure on Kharg Island—which handles approximately 90% of Iran’s oil exports—was damaged in the U.S. airstrikes. Tehran reiterated its warning that if its energy infrastructure were attacked, all oil facilities in the region that benefit the U.S. and its allies would be "set ablaze and destroyed." A spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Command also warned that Tehran would turn all oil infrastructure linked to the U.S. across the Middle East into "ashes" if any of Iran's facilities were attacked. On March 13, President Donald Trump reaffirmed his previous statement that the U.S. military campaign against Iran was "far exceeding expectations." However, he declined to provide any specific timeline for the end of the conflict. RELATED STORIESWhat Will Happen When the U.S. Strikes Iran’s “Crown Jewel” Island?Trump stated that the war would continue “for as long as necessary.” When asked about the concept of “unconditional surrender” that he expected from Tehran, the U.S. president responded that it meant "we are in an overwhelmingly strong position like never before." In a post on social media, Trump declared that Iran had been "completely defeated" in the U.S. and Israeli military campaign. He claimed that Iran sought a deal, despite Iranian officials asserting that they would continue the war. “Fake news doesn’t want to report on how well the U.S. military is doing against Iran, a country that has been completely defeated and wants a deal—but not one I will accept!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Kharg Island: The Heart of Iran’s Oil ExportsThe island of Kharg, a small strip of land roughly 8 km off Iran's coast, had remained relatively untouched in the first two weeks of the war. Located in the northern Persian Gulf, Kharg is crucial to Iran's oil export system and a significant revenue source for the Tehran government. Approximately 90-95% of Iran’s crude oil exports—around 1.7 million barrels per day in 2025—pass through Kharg before reaching international markets. Kharg is connected by pipelines to major oil fields on Iran's mainland and has large deep-water ports capable of handling some of the world’s largest oil tankers. This infrastructure allows Iran to efficiently transport crude oil to buyers, particularly in Asia.