Donald Trump claimed early Monday that Iran's energy hub of Kharg Island was being "blown to smithereens," posting an AI-generated video that purported to show the island engulfed in flames. There was no independent evidence to corroborate the claim, nor was there an immediate response from Iranian media.
The former president's statement coincided with fresh exchanges between U.S. and Iranian forces. U.S. forces launched strikes on two rocket launchers near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, the first such action in over a month. Tehran responded by reportedly targeting American forces in Jordan.
According to Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, the U.S. strikes occurred after forces with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were observed preparing to launch rockets and sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global commerce. U.S. forces are monitoring the area and are prepared to ensure the free flow of shipping, Hawkins stated. The U.S. military had recently completed clearing sea mines from the strait's international shipping routes.
Iranian news outlets reported hearing explosions near Larak Island, which is situated within the strait. The IRGC issued a statement acknowledging the "martyrdom and injury of several of our fighters and compatriots" and vowed "punishment of the aggressor."
The renewed hostilities contributed to a surge in oil prices in early Asian trade on Monday, with Brent futures climbing 2.7 percent to $90.51 a barrel following the U.S. strikes on Larak Island.
Reports indicated that shortly after the U.S. strikes, Iranian forces attacked American troops stationed in Jordan, though U.S. officials stated that most incoming missiles were intercepted with no significant impacts.
These developments followed weeks of the Trump administration intensifying economic sanctions against Iran and its business partners, moving away from military options. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that new secondary sanctions were expected weekly, with an initial focus on financial institutions that handle Iranian funds.
Trump's past statements about a swift end to the conflict have appeared to shift, with him recently expressing that he is "not in a hurry" to bring Iran back to negotiations. He has consistently argued that Iran's leadership is weakened, citing the impact of U.S. and Israeli campaigns on Iran's military capabilities. Iranian officials have claimed significant economic damage resulting from these actions.
Despite these claims, Iran has maintained leverage through its actions in the Strait of Hormuz. Although Trump has asserted the strait is open, with a reported 24 vessels passing through in a recent week, this represents a fraction of the approximately 130 vessels that transited daily before the conflict. A British military monitoring agency reported an unknown projectile striking a tanker ship in the strait on Saturday.
Last week, Trump stated that all mines had been cleared from the strait and warned that any entity attempting to place new mines would face destruction. However, Iran's Revolutionary Guards' navy has disputed claims of the strait being open, asserting it remains closed to ships without Iranian permission. The waterway is crucial, carrying nearly a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the six-month-old conflict.
An escalation of conflict in the region poses significant risks, particularly given Iran's history of targeting U.S. military bases and infrastructure in Gulf countries since the war began on February 28. An attack on Kharg Island, which handled 90 percent of Iran's oil exports prior to the war, would severely impact its energy trade and economy.