Donald Trump has drawn controversy by posting an AI-generated video on social media that appears to show the destruction of Jarg, Iran’s basic oil export terminal in the Persian Gulf. Reuters identified the footage as manipulated. The post drew international attention and pushed oil prices up more than 3% at market opening. The US government has not commented on the alleged attack, but global markets reacted immediately to the possibility of disruption to oil supplies.
Before the conflict began on February 28, with US and Israeli involvement, Jarg handled 90% of Iran’s oil exports, making it a critical asset for the Iranian economy. Any damage to its infrastructure would have severe consequences for Iran, which is already under heavy sanctions and economic pressure from Washington. Iranian authorities quickly denied the video’s authenticity. Hamid Bovard, head of National Iranian Oil Co., said operations on the island remained normal and dismissed Trump’s claims as baseless, Nournews reported.
Trump’s message came just hours after military exchanges between the US and Iran resumed. On Sunday, US forces struck two Iranian launch sites on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, causing civilian and military casualties, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard confirmed. Iran then launched missiles at two US bases in Jordan, but the projectiles were intercepted, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said. Iranian forces also claimed to have targeted the Al Minhad airbase in the United Arab Emirates with drones. The UAE’s Ministry of Defense denied an attack, Reuters reported.
Speaking from Kyrgyzstan, Iranian President Masud Pezeshkián warned that Iran would not stay silent in the face of aggression. Tehran does not seek war, he said, but would respond firmly to attacks. The conflict, which began six months ago, has so far failed to deliver the quick victory Washington anticipated. Ali Jameneí, Iran’s former supreme leader, was killed in the early days of the war, but his son Mojtaba Jameneí has maintained control, and prospects for regime change remain distant.
On Sunday, Mojtaba Jameneí used Telegram to urge Muslim countries, especially those in the Gulf, to unite against what he called their “true enemy.” He has not appeared in public since the US and Israeli strikes that killed his father, and his current condition is unknown.
Washington has shifted its strategy toward economic pressure, announcing new sanctions last week against countries supporting Iran. The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil passed before the escalation, is now nearly closed, severely affecting global shipping. Daily vessel crossings have fallen from 130 to fewer than 20. The US has reinstated a blockade in the Gulf of Oman and is inspecting all ships, while Iran has attacked vessels that do not comply with Revolutionary Guard protocols. On Monday, Iranian state TV reported that a supertanker caught fire and was immobilized after hitting two naval mines in Hormuz. The Revolutionary Guard said the tanker was attempting to cross illegally and warned that other violators would face similar consequences.
Tehran has also addressed Israel, which participated in the February 28 attacks alongside the US. In a message on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of manipulating the US into war with Iran. Araghchi cited an Israeli TV interview in which Netanyahu allegedly boasted about influencing US policy, saying he had spent more than 1,000 hours appearing on Israeli television.
The conflict and the spread of manipulated information, including Trump’s AI-generated video, have heightened regional tensions and contributed to instability in global energy markets. Military and economic developments continue to unfold.
Iran’s oil sector is central to its economy, and disruptions in the Persian Gulf have immediate global repercussions. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategic maritime chokepoints, and escalation there can affect energy prices worldwide. AI-generated content in political messaging adds another layer of complexity, raising concerns about misinformation and its potential influence on markets and international relations. As the conflict continues, the risk of further incidents affecting oil supplies and regional stability remains high.
