Iran Dismisses Trump Claim of Kharg Attack as Hostilities Return
Iranian officials have refuted social media claims made by Donald Trump regarding an attack on the country's primary oil export terminal while regional military strikes resume.
According to OilPrice.com, the National Iranian Oil Company has denied claims that Kharg Island, a critical energy hub in the northern Persian Gulf, was destroyed. The government agency dismissed a social media post by U.S. President Donald Trump that included an AI-generated video depicting the island being attacked. Hamid Bovard, the company's chief executive, described the assertions as "laughable" and maintained that operations at the terminal remain stable.
Kharg Island is responsible for approximately 90% of Iran's total petroleum exports. While the social media report claimed the site was being bombed, observers noted that there was no physical evidence of damage or military action at the facility as of Monday. The escalation in rhetoric coincided with a recent increase in actual military hostilities between U.S. forces and Iranian-backed groups following a period of relative calm.
U.S. Central Command confirmed strikes against Iranian rocket launchers situated on Larak Island, citing concerns that the hardware was being prepared for mining operations in the Strait of Hormuz. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported casualties and launched retaliatory strikes against U.S. military installations in Jordan. The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated it would continue to exercise its right to self-defense against any external aggression.
The renewal of conflict in these strategic maritime corridors impacted global energy markets, leading to an immediate rise in oil prices during Asian trading sessions. These events mark the first direct exchange of fire between the two nations in over a month, disrupting the temporary lull in regional violence. Despite the verified strikes elsewhere, the vital infrastructure at Kharg Island remains reportedly unaffected by the recent hostilities.
Helena Marsh — Energy Markets Editor. Helena covers crude, refined products and the trading houses that move them, with a focus on price formation in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
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