Iran's Kharg Island, a small but strategically vital strip of land nestled in the waters of the northern Persian Gulf, has been left untouched by U.S. and Israeli forces even as the Middle East conflict enters its second week. The coral island, which is located about 15 miles off the coast of mainland Iran, serves as the centerpiece for Iran's oil industry. It is estimated that around 90% of the country's crude exports pass through it before tankers then travel through the Strait of Hormuz .