U.S. President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated video clip on Sunday (August 30) that he said showed Iran's oil hub Kharg Island being blown to smithereens, which an Iranian official dismissed as "laughable," just hours after both nations resumed hostilities for the first time since July.

Several hours after the post, there was no evidence Kharg had been attacked.

The White House and the U.S. Defense Department did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment outside regular business hours.

"Trump’s tweets are laughable and conditions in Kharg are calm and appropriate," said Hamid Bovard, chief executive of government-run National Iranian Oil Co.

Oil operations had not stopped and workers were busy repairing previous damage and modernizing facilities, he added on the website of Nournews, a semi-official outlet close to Iran's top security body.

"Kharg Island being blown to smithereens!!! President DJT," Trump had said on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, with no further details.

Reuters confirmed that an accompanying video clip showing dramatic explosions was most likely synthetically-generated, using software that detects AI-manipulated imagery.

Kharg handled 90% of Iran's oil exports before the war launched by U.S. and Israeli attac

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. VARIOUS OF KHARG ISLAND AND OIL FACILITIES AT ISLAND

2. BOAT SAILING OFF ISLAND COAST

3. VARIOUS OF OIL FACILITIES SEEN FROM SEA

4. BOAT SAILING OFF ISLAND COAST

5. VARIOUS OF OIL FACILITIES SEEN FROM SEA

6. IRANIAN FLAG WAVING ON BOAT MAST

7. VARIOUS OF TANKER SAILING

8. VARIOUS OF OIL FACILITIES SEEN FROM SEA

9. VARIOUS OF TANKER NEAR OIL FACILITIES

10. VARIOUS OF OIL FACILITIES

10. VARIOUS OF WORKERS WALKING THROUGH OIL FACILITIES

11. VARIOUS OF OIL FACILITIES

KHARG ISLAND, IRAN (ARCHIVE - FEBRUARY 25, 2026) (2026 PLANET LABS PBC - Must on-screen courtesy 2026 Planet Labs PBC) (MUTE)

12. SATELLITE IMAGE OF IRAN'S OIL TERMINAL AT KHARG ISLAND

13. VARIOUS ZOOMED IN SATELLITE IMAGES OF IRAN'S OIL TERMINAL AT KHARG ISLAND SHOWING STRUCTURES, BUILDINGS AND PORTS

ANIMATION (ARCHIVE - MARCH 9, 2026) (GOOGLE EARTH - Must not obscure on screen courtesy. No resale) (MUTE)

14. ANIMATION OF KHARG ISLAND, MADE USING A COMPOSITE OF SATELLITE IMAGERY FROM SEVERAL SOURCES AND DATES

NEAR KHARG ISLAND, IRAN (ARCHIVE - MAY 6, 2026) (EUROPEAN UNION/COPERNICUS SENTINEL-2 - Must on-screen courtesy European Union/Copernicus Sentinel-2) (MUTE)

15. TWO SATELLITE IMAGES SHOWING SUSPECTED OIL SPILL OFF COAST KHARG ISLAND

KHARG ISLAND, IRAN (ARCHIVE- FEBRUARY 25, 2026) (2026 PLANET LABS PBC - Must on-screen courtesy 2026 Planet Labs PBC)(MUTE)

16. SATELLITE IMAGE SHOWING AREA ON IRAN'S KHARG ISLAND BEFORE STRIKES

KHARG ISLAND, IRAN (ARCHIVE - MARCH 14, 2026) (SPOT CNES 2026, Distribution Airbus DS - No archive / No resales / Must on-screen courtesy SPOT CNES 2026, Distribution Airbus DS)(MUTE)

17. SATELLITE IMAGE SHOWING AREA ON IRAN'S KHARG ISLAND (IN SHOT 16) AFTER STRIKES ON MARCH 13, 2026

KHARG ISLAND, IRAN (ARCHIVE - FEBRUARY 25, 2026) (2026 PLANET LABS PBC - Must on-screen courtesy 2026 Planet Labs PBC)(MUTE)

18. SATELLITE IMAGE SHOWING AREA ON IRAN'S KHARG ISLAND BEFORE STRIKES

KHARG ISLAND, IRAN (ARCHIVE - MARCH 14, 2026) (SPOT CNES 2026, Distribution Airbus DS - No archive / No resales / Must on-screen courtesy SPOT CNES 2026, Distribution Airbus DS)(MUTE)

19. SATELLITE IMAGE SHOWING AREA ON IRAN'S KHARG ISLAND (IN SHOT 18) AFTER STRIKES ON MARCH 13, 2026