Iran Rejects Trump’s Claim of Attack on Key Oil Hub

Iran has dismissed a social media post by U.S. President Donald Trump claiming that the country’s strategic Kharg Island oil hub had been destroyed.

Trump shared an AI-generated video showing dramatic explosions and wrote that Kharg Island had been “blown to smithereens.” However, Reuters found no evidence that the island had been attacked, and analysis indicated that the video was most likely artificially generated.

Hamid Bovard, chief executive of Iran’s state-run National Iranian Oil Company, described Trump’s claim as “laughable,” saying conditions on Kharg Island remained calm and oil operations were continuing.

The development came after the United States carried out its first known military strikes against Iranian targets since late July. U.S. forces reportedly struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, saying they posed an imminent threat.

Iran subsequently reported attacks against U.S. bases in Jordan and a U.S.-linked air base in the United Arab Emirates, although the UAE denied that its Al Minhad air base had been attacked. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also said they had shot down a U.S. drone over Gulf waters.

Tensions also increased in the Strait of Hormuz after an oil tanker caught fire following an apparent mine strike. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned ships operating in the strategic waterway to comply with its regulations.

The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy route, carrying a significant share of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Any prolonged disruption could have serious consequences for international energy markets.

Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington plans to impose additional secondary sanctions on Iran and entities linked to its financial system, potentially on a weekly basis, as the Trump administration seeks to increase economic pressure on Tehran.

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