Kharg Island appeared in a single-line post from Donald Trump on Sunday, where he claimed the Iranian energy hub was “being blown to smithereens.” The post included an AI-generated video of explosions but no corroborating evidence.
Trump’s claim lacks detail
Trump’s message on the platform read, “Kharg Island being blown to smithereens!!! President DJT,” without further explanation. Officials at the White House and the Defense Department did not respond to requests for comment before the close of business.
Reporters indicate the video was likely synthetically created using software that identifies AI-manipulated imagery. No independent sources have confirmed any attack on the site.
Before the conflict that began on 28 February, the island handled about 90% of the nation’s oil exports. An actual strike would cripple the country’s energy trade and place severe pressure on its economy.
US sanctions pressure banks
In parallel with the social-media post, Treasury officials outlined a new wave of secondary sanctions aimed at certain institutions. Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, told reporters that weekly sanctions would target banks suspected of moving Iranian funds.
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“We’re starting with the banks, and we’re telling the banks it’s not okay to have Iranian money and to aid the regime,” he said. The statement followed recent penalties on UAE branches of Egypt’s Banque Misr for alleged links to Tehran.
The next step, according to the official, could involve cutting an institution off from the dollar-based system entirely. “You’re going to see a lot more of these every week,” Bessent added ahead of a Group of 20 finance leaders meeting.
These measures reflect a shift from earlier military options toward intensified economic pressure.
Regional fallout and shipping concerns
Earlier this month, US forces struck two launchers on nearby Larak Island, a small outpost in the Strait of Hormuz. The move was described as a limited, precise response to Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps forces preparing rockets and sea mines.
Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at two US bases in Jordan. Jordanian forces intercepted eight missiles, the outlet reported. The Revolutionary Guards claimed the attack killed and wounded several soldiers and civilians, promising further “response and punishment.”
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In the aftermath, the US Central Command said its action was aimed at “imminent threat” minelaying forces but offered no further details.
Shipping data showed the number of visible commodity vessels in the strait fell to five per day over the weekend, though some ships may have disabled tracking systems to avoid detection.
Trump announced that all mines had been cleared from international waters of the strait and warned that any new mining attempts would be destroyed.
Iran’s naval forces have dismissed the claim that the waterway is open, labeling it “an obvious lie” and insisting vessels need Iranian permission to pass.