Trump's False Claim of Attack on Iran's Oil Hub Sparks Diplomatic Tensions

Iran's oil hub, Kharg Island, has been at the center of a recent diplomatic row between Iran and the US. The island is crucial to Iran's energy infrastructure, handling up to 90% of its petroleum products exports.

In a social media post, President Donald Trump claimed that Kharg was being 'blown to smithereens' by an AI-generated video showing explosions around an oil facility. However, Iranian officials denied the claim, with Hamid Bovard, head of the National Iranian Oil Company, describing it as 'laughable'.

The US had targeted two Iranian launchers on Larak Island earlier in August, leading to a response from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which launched ballistic missiles at two U.S. military bases in Jordan. The confrontation has affected oil markets, with Brent crude rising about 2.9% to above $90 a barrel.