Donald Trump has posted a computer-generated video appearing to show Iran’s Kharg Island being destroyed, claiming the strategic oil hub was being “blown to smithereens” despite there being no evidence of a fresh attack.
The US president shared the footage on Truth Social late on Sunday, August 30, alongside the message: “Kharg Island being blown to smithereens!!! President DJT.” He provided no further explanation or details.
Reuters reported that the accompanying clip, which showed dramatic explosions involving oil infrastructure, was most likely synthetically generated. Several hours after the post, there was still no independent evidence that Kharg Island had been attacked. ([investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/trump-posts-ai-video-of-irans-kharg-in-smithereens-no-evidence-of-attack-4882150))
The White House and the US Defence Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while there was no immediate reaction to Mr Trump’s post in Iranian media, according to Reuters. ([investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/trump-posts-ai-video-of-irans-kharg-in-smithereens-no-evidence-of-attack-4882150))
The post came after US forces struck Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, in the first known American attack on Iranian territory since late July. Larak is around 660 kilometres from Kharg Island, making clear that the reported strike and the footage shared by Mr Trump concerned separate locations. ([investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/trump-posts-ai-video-of-irans-kharg-in-smithereens-no-evidence-of-attack-4882150))
Kharg Island is a crucial part of Iran’s energy infrastructure and handled about 90 per cent of the country’s oil exports before the war, meaning any confirmed attack on the facility would have significant consequences for Iranian energy shipments. ([investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/trump-posts-ai-video-of-irans-kharg-in-smithereens-no-evidence-of-attack-4882150))
