Trump says Iran's Kharg is being 'blown to smithereens', but gives no details - Reuters

**Former President Donald Trump claimed on social media that Iran’s strategic oil hub on Kharg Island was “being blown to smithereens,” but offered no corroborating details or evidence. The statement, first reported by *Reuters*, was posted on Trump’s own platform and accompanied by a short AI‑generated video that purports to show a missile impact on the island. Neither the U.S. Department of Defense nor any Iranian authority confirmed an attack, and the video’s origin was traced to deep‑fake technology rather than an actual combat footage.

The remark came amid a rapid escalation of hostilities between Washington and Tehran. Earlier this week, U.S. forces struck Iran’s Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, targeting what officials described as a “military facility” that had been used to launch attacks on commercial shipping. In response, Iran launched a barrage of short‑range missiles toward the same area, marking the first significant exchange of fire between the two nations in a month and prompting heightened alerts across the region.

Analysts and fact‑checkers have warned that Trump’s vague assertion could further inflame an already volatile situation, especially given his continued influence over a segment of the American electorate. U.S. officials emphasized that any operation against Kharg Island would be publicly disclosed due to its strategic importance as a major oil‑export terminal. As of now, no independent verification exists to substantiate the claim, and the statement remains unlinked to any confirmed military action.