France, March 13 -- As fighting intensifies and oil prices rise, the island has drawn growing attention in Washington and in global energy markets.

The eight-kilometre strip of land lies less than 25 kilometres from the Iranian coast and about 480 kilometres north of the Strait of Hormuz.

It hosts Iran's main oil export terminal, where crude pumped by pipeline from major fields in south-west Iran - including Ahvaz, Marun and Gachsaran - is stored and loaded onto tankers bound largely for China. Island in the crosshairs

As the conflict deepens, the island's fate has become a topic of discussion in Washington.

The US news site Axios reported that American officials had discussed several options to increase pressure on Tehran. One possib...