Iranian state media outlet reports U.S.-Israeli strikes on Kharg Island

The U.S. or Israel carried out "several attacks on Kharg Island," with explosions heard on the small but strategic island Tuesday, the Iranian government-backed news agency Mehr reported. 

Just 20 miles off Iran's northern Persian Gulf coast, Kharg Island is Iran's hub for oil exports, historically handling 85–95% of the country's crude exports.

Mr. Trump has indicated he could try to occupy the island as part of an effort to thwart Iran's de facto blockade and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.

The U.S. has carried out dozens of strikes on Kharg already during the war, with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine saying more than two weeks ago that all of the military-only infrastructure on the island, including air defenses, a naval base and mine storage and deployment facilities were destroyed.

President Trump said U.S. forces avoided the island's oil export infrastructure in previous strikes, but he warned in late March that that if Iran did "anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz" he would "immediately reconsider this decision."