Iran War Days 15–16: US strikes Kharg and Iran widens GCC targeting

GULF COUNTRIES - In Brief 16 Mar 2026 by Justin Alexander

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HighlightsThe US struck military targets on Kharg Island, Iran’s oil export hub. Iran said if the oil facilities were attacked, then it would target the regional oil facilities of US-allied companies; it also threatened UAE ports and residential locations in Qatar and Dubai, where it claimed US military personnel were hiding. Drone debris started a fire at Fujairah port, the UAE’s route for bypassing Hormuz, due to drone interception debris. Brent oil held above $100 in Monday trading in Asia. Trump called for international naval support to secure Hormuz, without getting much of a response. He claimed that Iran “wants to make a deal” but Araghchi said it has “never even asked for negotiation”. US/Israel Trump announced on Truth Social that US forces “totally obliterated every MILITARY target” on Kharg Island, from where most of Iran’s oil is exported. CENTCOM said 90 military targets were destroyed, including mine storage and missile bunkers. (CENT/X, WP)Approximately 5,000 Marines are deploying to the Middle East, raising speculation that they might seek to capture Kharg Island. Hawkish senator Lindsey Graham posted “He who controls Kharg Island controls the destiny of this war”, ending with “Semper Fi”, the Marines’ slogan. In a 1988 interview, Trump imagined the US seizing the island, so it has been in his thoughts for four decades (NBC, WSJ, Grah/X)Trump told NBC in a 30-minute phone interview that Iran “wants to make a deal” but “the terms aren’t good enough yet.” He questioned whether Mojtaba Khamenei is “even alive” and said he “may hit [Kharg] a few more times just for fun.”Hegseth said 15,000+ targets have been struck (1,000+/day), Iranian missile volume is do...