US Strikes Iran: Though Trump called Kharg island Iran’s “crown jewel”, it was dubbed many years ago as the “orphan pearl of the Persian Gulf” by celebrated Iranian writer Jalal Al-e-Ahmad. New Delhi: Spread over a meagre 20 square kilometres, Iran’s Kharg island processes 90 per cent of the country’s total oil exports, driving the region to the edge as the US attacked it on Friday, 15 days into the Middle East conflict. Tiny Geography, Major Role Situated around the northern most part of the Persian Gulf and 28 kilometres off the mainland Bushehr province, the rocky limestone island with a population of gazelles measures around eight kilometres in length and five