History of Kharg Island in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 9, 2026

Kharg Island, also known as Khark Island, is a continental island of Iran situated in the Persian Gulf, approximately 25 km off the Iranian coast and 483 km northwest of the Strait of Hormuz. With a total area of 20 km2, it is administered by the Bushehr province. The island serves as a crucial sea port for Iranian oil exports, significantly influencing Iran's territorial claims within the Persian Gulf oil fields. Khark, the sole city within the Khark District, is located on the island.

1910: Studies on Khark Island Discoveries Published

In 1910, F. Sarre and E. Herzfeld published studies about the discoveries reported by Captain A. W. Stiffe in 1898. The studies detail two rock-cut chambered tombs featuring arched entranceways to a main chamber with vestibule from which spawned around twenty smaller chambers.

1979: Expropriation of Amoco property

In 1979, following the Iranian Revolution, the property of Amoco, which had built and operated the oil terminal on Kharg Island, was expropriated.

1980: Heavy Bombing of Khark Island

From 1980 through 1988, the Iraqi Air Force heavily bombed the Khark Island facilities during the Iran–Iraq War, destroying most of the terminal facilities.

1986: Khark Island facilities decommissioned

In the autumn of 1986, the Khark Island facilities, which were the world's largest offshore crude oil terminal and the principal sea terminal for Iranian oil, were put out of commission.

1988: End of Iran-Iraq War, slow repair to facilities

The Iran-Iraq war ended in 1988. Even after the war ended, repair to all facilities has been very slow.

November 2007: Discovery of Achaemenid cuneiform inscription

On 14 November 2007, an Achaemenid era cuneiform inscription in Old Persian was discovered on Kharg Island. The inscription is carved on a coral rock in Old Persian semi-syllabic cuneiform signs and written in five lines in an unusual order.

May 2008: Vandalism of inscription

On 31 May 2008, an Achaemenid era cuneiform inscription discovered in November 2007 was seriously damaged by unknown vandal(s). About 70 percent of the inscription was destroyed with a sharp object, indicating a deliberate act.