US President Donald Trump has posted an AI-generated video showing Iran’s Kharg Island apparently being destroyed, hours after American forces carried out real strikes on a different Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz. There was no evidence on Monday that Kharg Island itself had been attacked, meaning readers should not treat the dramatic footage as verified images of a US military operation.
Trump shared the video on Truth Social late on Sunday with the message: “Kharg Island being blown to smithereens!!!” The clip appeared to show explosions tearing through oil facilities on the strategically important island, which is central to Iran’s crude exports.
However, the images were generated using artificial intelligence rather than footage of a confirmed attack. Reuters also assessed the material using software designed to detect manipulated imagery and concluded that the video was most likely synthetic.
The White House and US Department of Defense did not immediately provide evidence that Kharg had been struck. An Iranian official later dismissed Trump’s post and said operations on the island were continuing.
Real US strikes targeted Larak Island, not Kharg
Trump’s post came shortly after the United States resumed direct military action against Iran following a period of reduced fighting.
The actual American strikes reported on Sunday targeted Larak Island, near the Strait of Hormuz, rather than Kharg Island. US officials said Iranian forces were preparing rocket systems capable of deploying sea mines into the strategically important waterway.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said several soldiers and civilians were killed or injured in the Larak attack and promised a response. Tehran later launched ballistic missiles towards US-linked military sites in Jordan, while Jordan said its air defences intercepted eight missiles.
The latest exchange marks another escalation in the wider US-Iran conflict, which has repeatedly threatened commercial shipping and energy supplies across the Gulf.
New Daily Prime has previously reported on renewed US strikes on Iran and Tehran’s response and on the wider strategic difficulties facing Trump as Washington tries to contain the conflict without becoming trapped in a longer Middle East war. Read New Daily Prime’s analysis of Trump’s options in Iran
Why Kharg Island matters
Kharg Island is far more economically important than the island that was actually struck on Sunday.
Located in the Persian Gulf, Kharg has traditionally handled about 90 per cent of Iran’s oil exports, making it one of the country’s most important pieces of energy infrastructure. A sustained attack on the facilities could sharply reduce Tehran’s ability to export crude and put additional pressure on an economy already affected by war and international sanctions.
That explains why Trump’s AI video attracted immediate attention despite the absence of evidence of an actual attack.
Trump has previously threatened action against Kharg as part of Washington’s pressure campaign against Tehran. But attacking or attempting to seize major Iranian oil infrastructure would carry much greater economic and military consequences than the limited strikes reported on Larak Island.
New Daily Prime has also covered how the Strait of Hormuz has become central to the confrontation. The narrow waterway is one of the world’s most important energy routes, and instability there can affect oil prices, transport costs and the wider global economy. Read New Daily Prime’s report on US-Iran tensions around the Strait of Hormuz
Shipping tensions add to fears of wider escalation
The renewed military exchange has again raised concerns about freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran said on Monday that a supertanker attempting to cross part of the waterway had struck naval mines and caught fire. The IRGC did not initially identify the vessel or give full details about its crew, so the circumstances surrounding that claim required further independent verification.
Washington has accused Iran of threatening commercial shipping and has sought to maintain routes through waters closer to Oman. Tehran, meanwhile, says foreign military operations in the area threaten Iranian security and has defended its right to respond to US attacks.
The latest developments also come as Washington increases economic pressure on Tehran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said new secondary sanctions are expected as part of efforts to restrict Iran’s access to the international financial system.
New Daily Prime previously reported on Trump ordering fresh strikes on Iran as the ceasefire crisis deepened.
What readers should know
Trump’s video should not be interpreted as evidence that Kharg Island has been destroyed or was under attack. The confirmed US military action was against targets on Larak Island, while independent reporting found no evidence of an attack on Kharg several hours after Trump’s post. Because the situation is developing quickly, claims and social-media footage should be checked against official statements and independent reporting before being treated as confirmed military developments.
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