US President Donald Trump claimed early Monday that Iran’s energy hub of Kharg Island was being ‘blown to smithereens’ in a one-line social media post accompanied by an AI-generated video clip.
Trump wrote on Truth Social: ‘Kharg Island being blown to smithereens!!! President DJT.’
There was no other evidence that the Iranian energy hub was under attack and no immediate response to Trump’s post on Iranian media.
The accompanying video clip showing dramatic explosions that was most likely synthetically-generated, using software that detects AI-manipulated imagery.
Attacking Kharg, which handled 90% of Iran’s oil exports before the war launched by U.S. and Israeli attacks on February 28, would severely disrupt its energy trade and put huge pressure on its economy.
It comes as US forces made their first strikes at Iran in over a month Sunday, firing at two rocket launchers on the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran responding by attacking American forces in Jordan.
The fresh fury erupted after forces with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were seen preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the strait, Central Command spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins confirmed to the Daily Mail.
‘US forces are monitoring the area closely and remain prepared to protect the free flow of commerce through this essential waterway,’ Captain Hawkins said.
