Iran dismisses Trump's post of attack on key energy hub of Kharg
Iranian officials have dismissed an AI-generated video posted by Donald Trump that depicted an attack on the Kharg Island oil hub. While tensions remain high between the U.S. and Iran, officials confirmed that operations at the facility continue as normal.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the increasing use of AI-generated disinformation in geopolitical conflicts and the potential for market volatility based on false information.
An Iranian official dismissed as “laughable” on Monday (August 31, 2026) a post by Donald Trump of an AI-generated video clip that the U.S. President said showed Iran’s oil hub Kharg Island being “blown to smithereens”.
Hours after Sunday’s (August 30) post, there was no evidence Kharg had been attacked. The White House and the U.S. Defence Department did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment outside regular business hours.
Mr. Trump’s post came shortly after the U.S. and Iran resumed hostilities for the first time since late July, further denting hopes for any early resolution of a conflict now in its sixth month and driving oil prices nearly 2% higher on Monday (August 31).
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in