US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran’s strategically important Kharg Island was being “blown to smithereens”, sharing a dramatic video on social media that appeared to show large explosions on the island.
Trump posted the video on Truth Social on Monday with the short message, “Kharg Island being blown to smithereens!!! President DJT.” He did not provide further details about whether the United States had actually carried out an attack on the island.
The video has also raised questions over its authenticity. According to Reuters, the footage appeared to be artificially generated or manipulated using artificial intelligence. There has been no immediate confirmation from the White House or the US Department of Defense that Kharg Island was attacked.
Kharg Island is one of Iran’s most important energy facilities and plays a major role in the country’s oil exports. Before the latest conflict, the island reportedly handled around 90% of Iran’s oil exports. Any major attack on the facility could therefore have serious consequences for Iran’s economy and global energy supplies.
Trump’s post came shortly after the United States carried out strikes on Iran’s Larak Island. The US military reportedly targeted two rocket launchers there. Larak is located hundreds of kilometres from Kharg and is strategically important because of its position near the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for global oil shipments.
Iran responded to the Larak attack by launching strikes against two US bases in Jordan, according to reports. Iranian officials have also warned that the country could take further military action in response to US attacks.
The latest developments come amid a wider escalation between Washington and Tehran. Alongside military operations, the Trump administration is increasing economic pressure on Iran through sanctions.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington plans to introduce new secondary sanctions regularly. The measures are aimed at banks and companies accused of helping Iran move or access money through the international financial system.
The US has already imposed sanctions on branches of Egypt’s Banque Misr in the United Arab Emirates over alleged financial links to Iran. Bessent warned that further measures could target financial institutions and potentially cut them off from the US dollar-based financial system.
The situation has increased concerns about the potential impact on global oil markets. Any major disruption at Kharg Island or around the Strait of Hormuz could affect Iran’s ability to export oil and could also create wider uncertainty in international energy markets.
For now, however, there is no independent confirmation that Kharg Island was actually attacked, and the video shared by Trump should be treated cautiously because of questions surrounding its authenticity.
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