Trump posts AI-generated video claiming destruction of Iran’s Kharg Island oil hub

Tehran, Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump posted a video he said showed Iran’s Kharg Island oil hub “being blown to smithereens”, but an Iranian official called the claim “laughable” and Reuters found no evidence the island had been attacked. The post came hours after the United States and Iran resumed hostilities for the first time since July.

Video claim and Iranian response

Trump posted the video on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, writing: “Kharg Island being blown to smithereens!!! President DJT,” without providing further details.

Reuters assessed the accompanying footage, which depicted dramatic explosions, as most likely synthetically generated using software designed to identify AI-manipulated imagery.

Several hours after the post, there was no evidence that Kharg had been attacked. The White House and the U.S. Defense Department did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment outside regular business hours.

Oil operations continue

Hamid Bovard, chief executive of the state-run National Iranian Oil Co., said conditions on Kharg were calm and oil operations had not stopped.

“Trump’s tweets are laughable and conditions in Kharg are calm and appropriate,” Bovard said, according to Nournews, a semi-official outlet close to Iran’s top security body.

He said workers were repairing previous damage and modernising facilities.

Kharg handled 90% of Iran’s oil exports before the war launched by U.S. and Israeli attacks on February 28. An attack on the island would severely disrupt energy trade and increase pressure on Iran’s economy.

Iranian president’s statement

President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran was not seeking war but would respond decisively to any aggression.

“We will never remain silent in the face of any aggression and will respond decisively to the aggressors,” state media quoted him as saying on Monday before a visit to Kyrgyzstan.