Donald Trump has shared another AI-generated clip – this time of Iran’s Kharg Island being blown up.
There were no signs of any real attack on the oil hub hours after the dramatic video was shared on the president’s Truth Social platform, with Iran describing the post as ‘laughable’.
The clip depicting fake explosions was accompanied by the message: ‘Kharg Island being blown to smithereens!!!’
It was published just hours after hostilities between the US and Iran resumed for the first time since July.
Hamid Bovard, chief executive of government-run National Iranian Oil Co, insisted last night conditions were ‘calm and appropriate’ on the island.
Kharg handled some 90% of Iran’s crude exports before the war between the two nations broke out in February.
It has been a constant target of threats from Trump due to its strategic and economic importance.
On Sunday US forces targeted Larak, an island in the Strait of Hormuz near the port of Bandar Abbas.
Iran claimed it had responded with attacks on two US bases in Jordan, as well as strikes on the UAE’s Al Minhad air base early on Monday, however Emirati authorities denied any attack took place on the latter.
Air defence systems in Jordan intercepted eight missiles fired from Iran on Sunday, state media said.
The exchange of fire comes after the US pledged to ratchet up secondary sanctions against organisations helping to prop up the Iranian regime.
Treasury secretary Scott Bessent indicated he would unveil a new package of measures targeting the banking sector.
‘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.
In an update, the US Central Command confirmed it had targeted Iranian forces laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the critical oil chokepoint which ordinarily carried up to 20 per cent of the world’s natural gas.
Just five visible cargo vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz per day over the weekend, shipping data showed.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
MORE: Fanatical Maga supporter Milo Yiannopoulos back in UK after deportation by ICE
MORE: Trump staff swiftly deleted social media post that ‘compared him to Hitler’
MORE: Donald Trump makes grand gesture to honour Dolly Parton