Iran dismisses Trump's post of attack on key energy hub of Kharg - Reuters

**Iran rejects President Trump’s claim of a strike on the Kharg oil hub**

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, former U.S. President Donald Trump posted an AI‑generated video purporting to show a missile attack that “blasted” Iran’s strategic Kharg Island, a key oil‑loading terminal in the Persian Gulf. The clip, which was circulated on his social‑media platform, depicted a fiery explosion and the caption “Kharg blown to smithereens.” Iran’s foreign ministry promptly dismissed the material as fabricated, stating that no such attack had taken place and that the video was a “deliberate attempt to spread disinformation.” The ministry’s spokesperson, Abbas Araghchi, told reporters that Kharg’s facilities remained fully operational and that any suggestion of a U.S. strike on the island was “purely fictional.”

The post came amid heightened tensions following a U.S. strike on Larak Island, a military outpost in the Strait of Hormuz, on March 22. According to a CNN report, U.S. forces launched precision munitions that targeted what they described as an Iranian missile‑launching site, killing several Iranian personnel. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired a barrage of short‑range missiles toward the Arabian Sea later that night, an action reported by Iran International and confirmed by Tehran’s military officials as a “proportionate retaliation.” The exchange marked the first major escalation between the two nations in a month and raised concerns about a broader confrontation in the strategically vital waterway.

Analysts note that Trump’s post, which NDTV described as an “AI‑generated ‘attack’,” appears intended to politicize the ongoing conflict and stir public sentiment ahead of the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. However, experts warned that such misinformation could complicate diplomatic efforts to de‑escalate the situation. The United Nations has called for restraint from both sides, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the free flow of commerce through the Gulf. With Tehran firmly rejecting the claim and Washington yet to comment on the video, the episode underscores the challenges of separating fact from fabricated content in an era of deep‑fake technology.