Tehran: Amid growing fears of potential Israeli attacks on Iranian oil facilities, satellite imagery from Wednesday has revealed the evacuation of vessels from Iran’s critical oil terminal on Kharg Island. This strategic hub, located in the Persian Gulf, is responsible for managing the majority of Iran’s oil exports, making it an essential asset for the country’s economy and energy sector.
Tehran has responded to the speculation of Israeli strikes by issuing stark warnings. A senior Iranian military official, Brigadier General Ali Fadavi, stated, “If the occupiers make such a mistake, we will target all their energy sources, installations, and all refineries and gas fields,” sending a clear signal of potential retaliation.
The evacuation has raised alarms within the global energy market, as Kharg Island is responsible for handling approximately 90% of Iran’s oil exports. Satellite imagery and vessel-tracking companies, such as TankerTrackers.com, have confirmed the mass departure of Iranian oil tankers. According to TankerTrackers.com, “empty VLCC supertankers left the nation’s largest oil terminal, Kharg Island, yesterday.” The company added that while crude oil loadings are still ongoing, all vacant shipping capacity has been cleared from the anchorage, indicating a pre-emptive move to mitigate potential damage from any future strikes.
Notably, this is the first significant evacuation of its kind since the sanctions imposed on Iran in 2018, marking a pivotal moment for Iran’s oil export operations.
Israel has not taken Iran’s actions lightly. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following Iran’s missile attacks earlier this week, stated that Iran “made a big mistake” and “will pay for it,” reinforcing the potential for further escalation. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched missiles toward Israel on Tuesday in retaliation for Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the assassination of senior leaders from Hamas, Hezbollah, and the IRGC.
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Iran’s Foreign Minister Expresses Support for Lebanon
Amid this escalating regional tension, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Beirut on Friday, underscoring Tehran’s commitment to Lebanon. Araghchi declared that Iran remains steadfast in supporting its allies in the region. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is and will continue to stand firmly with its friends in Lebanon,” he said, reaffirming Tehran’s unwavering stance.
He further warned that any Israeli actions against Iran would result in a stronger retaliation than ever before. His remarks came following Israeli military bombardments in certain areas of Beirut, signaling the heightened tensions between Israel and Iran’s regional allies.
