Trump says Iran’s Kharg Island was “smashed to pieces”
Trump posted an AI-like video claiming Kharg Island was destroyed; no evidence or official confirmation yet.
President Donald Trump posted on social media that Iran's energy hub, Kharg Island, has been "smashed to pieces," sharing a short video clip that, according to media reports, appears to have been produced with the help of artificial intelligence.
Trump did not provide additional evidence to support the claim. There has been no immediate comment from the White House or the U.S. Department of Defense, and Iranian officials have not publicly confirmed an attack.
News organizations say the video accompanying Trump’s message shows dramatic explosions and, after examination with specialized software designed to detect AI-generated content, was judged likely to be artificially produced.
Strategic role of Kharg
Kharg Island has long been central to Iran's oil exports: through the island, until February 28 — before the start of the U.S.-Israeli strikes — some 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports passed. An attack on the island would seriously disrupt Tehran’s energy trade and place heavy pressure on the country’s economy.
Trump’s post comes amid rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, after U.S. forces struck Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island and Iran said it retaliated with attacks on U.S. military targets in Jordan. Separately, Iranian media quoted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps saying it downed an American MQ-9 drone over the Strait of Hormuz.
Photo: press material from the event
