Iran's oil minister visits key oil terminal amid Israel strike fears

An Israeli military spokesman said on Saturday that Israel would retaliate, following last week's missile attack by Tehran, "when the time is right."

 Smoke rises at an oil refinery in Birjand, Iran, December 10, 2023.  (photo credit: Mohsen Noferesti/IRNA/WANA Handout via REUTERS)
Smoke rises at an oil refinery in Birjand, Iran, December 10, 2023.
(photo credit: Mohsen Noferesti/IRNA/WANA Handout via REUTERS)

Iran's Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad landed on Kharg island, the oil ministry's news website Shana reported on Sunday, amid concerns that Israel could target Iran's largest oil terminal there.

An Israeli military spokesman said on Saturday that Israel would retaliate, following last week's missile attack by Tehran, "when the time is right."

Following Iran's attack, Axios cited Israeli officials as saying that Iran's oil facilities could be hit in response.

US President Joe Biden said on Friday that he did not think Israel had yet concluded how to respond.

 People stand around apparent remains of a ballistic missile lying in the desert, following an attack by Iran on Israel, near the southern city of Arad, Israel October 2, 2024. (credit: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS)
People stand around apparent remains of a ballistic missile lying in the desert, following an attack by Iran on Israel, near the southern city of Arad, Israel October 2, 2024. (credit: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS)

Visiting the oil facilities

"Paknejad arrived this morning in order to visit the oil facilities and meet operational staff located on Kharg island," Shana reported, adding that the oil terminal there has the capacity to store 23 million barrels of crude.

China, which does not recognize US sanctions, is Tehran's main client and according to analysts imported 1.2 to 1.4 million barrels per day from Iran in the first half of 2024.