Trump Posts AI Video Claiming Iran’s Kharg Island “Blown to Smithereens”

Trump shares AI-generated video depicting explosions on Iran's key oil export hub amid escalating U.S.-Iran military exchanges in the Persian Gulf.

First Published: August 31, 2026, 12:15 PM ETUpdates (1): August 31, 2026, 12:15 PM ET

WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald J. Trump posted an AI-generated video claiming Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s most important oil export terminal, had been “blown to smithereens,” even as no evidence supported an actual strike on the facility.

The post accompanied a video clip depicting explosions at what appeared to be an oil field and harbor. Reuters found the footage was most likely AI-generated, according to moderndiplomacy.eu. A U.S. official later told Reuters the military did not target Kharg Island in overnight strikes, according to independent.co.uk.

Kharg Island handled around 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports before the war began in February, making it one of the most strategically significant energy facilities in the world, according to independent.co.uk. Any major attack on the island could severely disrupt Iran’s remaining energy trade and deprive Tehran of crucial revenue.

Here is the full post on truthsocial: “Kharg Island being blown to smithereens!!! President DJT” on August 30, 2026 at 10:18 PM ET.

Kharg Island being blown to smithereens!!! President DJT

Source: https://storage.googleapis.com/newsfindradkstaging-media/source_media/videos/2525f71433f2.mov

This is Trump’s first message released today, and the last post was 9 days ago, and it is not part of a thread. On average, Trump produces 17 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025. The move fits a broader pattern in Trump’s recent messaging, with 13 of his 250 posts over the last 30 days classified as Foreign Policy posts.

Trump’s post arrived hours after U.S. forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first known American offensive operation in more than a month, according to abc.net.au. U.S. Central Command said it took “limited, precise action” after observing Iran’s Revolutionary Guard forces preparing to launch rockets and deploy sea mines into the strait, according to bbc.com. The strikes killed two people and injured two others, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said, according to bbc.com.

Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles at the King Hussein and Al-Azraq U.S. bases in Jordan, according to abc.net.au. Jordan’s armed forces intercepted eight missiles that entered Jordanian airspace, according to independent.co.uk. Iran’s army also said it attacked the United Arab Emirates’ Al Minhad Air Base with drones, targeting locations where U.S. forces and helicopters were stationed, according to abc.net.au. The UAE’s Ministry of Defence denied the base had been targeted and called the reports “unfounded,” though it confirmed it shot down a drone, according to bbc.com.

“Trump’s tweets are laughable and conditions in Kharg are calm and appropriate,” Hamid Bovard, chief executive of government-run National Iranian Oil Co., said, according to independent.co.uk. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a statement quoted by state television, “We are not seeking war, but we will deliver a decisive response to the aggressors,” according to bbc.com.

The renewed confrontation rattled global energy markets. Visible commodity vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to just five vessels per day over the weekend, according to moderndiplomacy.eu. The waterway previously carried nearly one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the conflict closed it to normal marine traffic, according to bbc.com. Iran has demanded that tanker traffic pass by Larak Island for checks and reportedly forced vessels to pay $2 million to cross, according to bbc.com.

Consumers worldwide face the consequences of the disruption. Oil price swings tied to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have rippled through gasoline and heating fuel markets for months. Any confirmed attack on Kharg Island would intensify that pressure by threatening to eliminate Iran’s remaining export capacity.

The Trump administration shifted away from military action in recent weeks, stepping up economic sanctions against Tehran and its business partners, according to independent.co.uk. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington expects to introduce new secondary sanctions almost every week, initially targeting banks and financial institutions connected to Iran, according to moderndiplomacy.eu.

The question of whether the United States will strike Kharg Island remains unanswered. No U.S. official has confirmed plans to target the facility. Iran’s IRGC vowed “response and punishment” for the Larak strikes, according to independent.co.uk, but neither side has announced a timeline for further military action.

The Strait of Hormuz has long served as a flashpoint for U.S.-Iran tensions. The U.S. and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on February 28, with Iran responding by attacking Israel, U.S. bases and allied states in the Gulf, according to bbc.com. The strait measures about 21 miles (about 33.8 kilometers) at its narrowest point between Iran, the UAE and Oman, and United Nations rules allow countries to exercise control of territorial seas up to 12 nautical miles from their coastline, according to bbc.com.