Trump posts AI video of Iran’s Kharg in ’smithereens’, no evidence of attack

President Donald Trump posted a video on social media claiming Iran's Kharg Island had been destroyed by airstrikes, while no evidence of an attack was found. Kharg Island, a key oil hub, handles 90% of Iran's oil exports and its destruction would have severe economic consequences. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed a decisive response to any aggression, which could include retaliation for the U.S. attacks on Iranian forces in Jordan and the UAE.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced plans to impose new secondary sanctions on Iranian banks, potentially cutting them off from the global financial system. The attacks followed weeks of economic sanctions, shifting away from military options. U.S. and Iranian forces continued to exchange threats and military actions, with the Strait of Hormuz carrying nearly a fifth of global oil shipments.