After Kharg, Qeshm Island in Iran Targeted by Strikes
- Why these attacks on these small pieces of land?
- TF1 Info explores the question.
Donald Trump threatening to “annihilate” Kharg, and strikes hitting the desalination plant on the Iranian “Riviera” of Qeshm… In recent weeks in the Iran war, the United States and Israel have intensified their operations against the islands of the Islamic Republic.
In the region, especially in the highly strategic Strait of Hormuz, the regime of the mullahs rules over several small pieces of land, some heavily militarized. They are like “pebbles in the shoes” of the United States and Israel, according to researcher Jehan-Christophe Charles, affiliated with the Mediterranean Foundation for Strategic Studies (FMES).
Qeshm: Iran’s Jewel
Among these “pebbles,” Qeshm stands out as Iran’s jewel, the largest island in the Gulf, spanning about a hundred kilometers in the Strait of Hormuz, a few kilometers off the coast of the Islamic Republic. A popular tourist destination with UNESCO-listed heritage, it serves as a gateway for products coming from the Emirates.
But what interest does Israel and the United States have in their war with Iran? “It could give them a better view of what is happening in the strait, even if taking an island like Qeshm would be more symbolic,” Jehan-Christophe Charles points out.
Larak: The Gate to Hormuz
Qeshm is close to other Iranian islands: Larak and Ormuz, located in the narrowest part of the strait and heavily militarized by the Islamic Republic. Larak, in particular, hosts a regime military base and is known for its strategic location, as it sits on a maritime route approved by the Revolutionary Guards to allow a few commercial ships to pass through with a registration system for “approved ships” and hefty fees.
Maritime data analyzed by AFP confirms that the few remaining commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz are near Larak. While it plays a role in managing maritime traffic, its military significance is limited in the context of war.
“If the island is heavily militarized, it seems like it is of no use to Iran. The country has intelligence means, including from Russia, to gather information about situations at sea and does not need men with binoculars on an island to know what is happening in the strait,” says Jehan-Christophe Charles.
Small Tomb, Big Tomb, and Abu Musa: The Disputed Islets
In the region, Iran also controls three islets, farther from its coast: Small Tomb, Big Tomb – about 20 km from Qeshm, with the latter covering an area of 10 km² – and Abu Musa, the southernmost island in the Persian Gulf, measuring 12 km². These territories are disputed and claimed by the United Arab Emirates, turned into mini-fortresses by the mullahs regime.
While these islands were crucial in 1971, allowing Iran to strike and surveil neighboring countries, advances in technology and the reach of Iranian missiles and drones have reduced their military strategic value.
“They no longer have crucial strategic importance, but they still pose threats in operations, with a disruptive capability that can complicate operations by attacking vulnerable points. If you take one island, for example, Qeshm, you have to take them all, otherwise you leave behind means of action that could hinder operations,” analysis by Jehan-Christophe Charles.
Kharg: The Key to Ending the War?
Apart from these islands in the Strait of Hormuz, Kharg Island, further north, may ultimately be the most crucial in the Iran war.
The territory, home to Iran’s largest oil site, already bombed and threatened by Donald Trump with annihilation if discussions with Iran do not progress quickly, accounts for 90% of Iranian crude oil exports. “If the United States takes control of Kharg, they take hold of Iranian oil,” points out Jehan-Christophe Charles. “And maybe that could be the currency to tilt the decision of Iranians and end the war.”
Symbolically, the Iranian islands could become a significant factor in the ongoing Middle East war. An American military operation on Qeshm or Kharg and capturing these territories could be a blow to the mullahs regime and a tool to compel Tehran to stop its threats against global maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. This could potentially allow the United States, under Donald Trump, to claim victory.
Currently, as Iran shows no signs of weakening and Washington seeks an exit strategy, “everyone is playing a game, a sort of poker game,” analyzes Jehan-Christophe Charles. “At some point, if they want to end this crisis, they will need to show their cards.” The American card could be named Kharg or Qeshm.
