Tehran: Iranian officials have dismissed a social media post by US President Donald Trump claiming that Iran’s primary oil terminal, Kharg Island, was being "blown to smithereens" as "laughable", confirming that operations at the strategic energy hub remain unaffected.
Trump’s post on Truth Social on Sunday included a video clip depicting massive explosions. An analysis of the footage confirmed that it was generated using artificial intelligence. Hours following the post, there was no physical evidence of an attack on Kharg Island, which previously handled roughly 90 per cent of Iran’s crude exports. Hamid Bovard, chief executive of the National Iranian Oil Company, stated on state-linked media that conditions on the island were calm and repair works were proceeding as normal.
The social media claim follows a sharp escalation in direct military engagements, marking the first known strikes between US and Iranian forces since late July. US Central Command confirmed taking "limited, precise action" against two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launchers on Larak Island, located near the Strait of Hormuz. US officials stated the targets were preparing to launch sea mine carrying rockets into the strategic shipping channel.
In response to the Larak strikes, Iran launched retaliatory assaults against two US bases in Jordan. Jordanian armed forces say they intercepted eight incoming missiles in their airspace. Iran's military also claimed responsibility for a drone attack on the UAE's Al Minhad air base, asserting it targeted US assets, however, the UAE Ministry of Defence formally denied reports of an attack on the facility. Concurrently, the IRGC stated it downed a US drone over Gulf waters and targeted a supertanker attempting illegal passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The renewed violence comes amid heightened economic pressure from Washington. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that Washington intends to introduce weekly secondary sanctions targeting financial institutions connected to Iranian capital, following recent measures against the UAE operations of Banque Misr.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that while Tehran does not seek broader conflict, it will respond decisively to external aggression.
