Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Trump Claims Kharg Attack as U.S.-Iran Hostilities Resume
Donald Trump said Iran’s Kharg Island was being destroyed.
He did not explain what happened, and there was no independent evidence that the island had been attacked.
Reuters said the explosion video shared with his post was probably made with artificial intelligence.
Iran’s oil company chief said conditions on Kharg were calm and that oil operations were continuing.
The United States separately said it attacked two launchers on Iran’s Larak Island.
U.S. officials said the launchers were being prepared to put sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran reportedly answered by attacking U.S. bases in Jordan.
Iran also reported attacks involving a UAE air base, a U.S. drone and a tanker struck by mines, although the UAE denied the air-base report.
Fewer ships traveled through the strait while both countries argued about whether it was open.
The United States also planned more sanctions against Iranian banks and other institutions.
Donald Trump said Kharg Island was being “blown to smithereens” but gave no details or evidence.
Reuters found no evidence of an attack on Kharg, and assessed the accompanying explosion video as probably AI-generated.
The United States said it struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island over an alleged imminent sea-mining threat in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian media reported missile attacks on U.S. bases in Jordan, while Iran also claimed an attack on a UAE air base and the downing of a U.S. drone.
Shipping traffic through the Strait fell to five visible commodity vessels per day as Washington and Tehran disputed whether the waterway was open.
- Who
- U.S. President Donald Trump, the United States, Iran, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates were involved in the reported developments.
- What
- Trump claimed Kharg Island was being destroyed; the United States reported strikes on Iranian launchers, and Iran reportedly carried out retaliatory military actions.
- When
- The reports concern events on Sunday and Monday, published August 30-31, after the first known U.S. strikes on Iran since late July.
- Where
- The reported events involved Kharg Island, Larak Island, the Strait of Hormuz, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and nearby Gulf waters.
- Why
- The United States said its Larak strikes targeted launchers allegedly being prepared to deploy sea mines; Iran described subsequent attacks as responses to those strikes.
U.S. Position and Claims
Iranian Position and Claims
Status of Kharg Island
U.S. Position and Claims
Trump said Kharg Island was being “blown to smithereens,” but the White House and Defense Department provided no supporting details in the reports.
Iranian Position and Claims
Iranian officials dismissed the claim as laughable, said conditions on Kharg were calm and reported that oil operations continued; Reuters found no evidence of an attack.
U.S. strike on Larak
U.S. Position and Claims
The United States said it took “limited, precise” action against Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces that were preparing rockets carrying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz and posed an “imminent threat.”
Iranian Position and Claims
Iranian authorities described attacks on Larak as aggression that caused casualties and used subsequent strikes against U.S. positions as retaliation.
Control of the Strait of Hormuz
U.S. Position and Claims
Trump said the strait was open and that mines in international waters had been removed or detonated; the United States warned against placing new mines.
Iranian Position and Claims
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ navy called the U.S. claim that the strait was open “an obvious lie” and said ships without Iranian permission could face consequences.
- Kharg Island claim
- Trump posted that Kharg Island was being “blown to smithereens,” without providing details.
- Evidence of attack
- Reuters found no evidence several hours later that Kharg Island had been attacked.
- Iranian response
- National Iranian Oil Company chief Hamid Bovard called the claim laughable and said Kharg’s conditions and oil operations were calm.
- Kharg’s importance
- The island handled 90% of Iran’s oil exports before the war, according to the reports.
- U.S. strikes
- A U.S. official said American forces attacked two Iranian launchers on Larak Island, citing an imminent minelaying threat.
- Reported retaliation
- Jordan said its forces intercepted eight missiles entering its airspace during reported Iranian attacks targeting U.S. bases.
- Shipping impact
- Visible commodity-vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to five vessels per day over the weekend.
- Planned sanctions
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said new secondary sanctions were likely to be announced weekly, initially focusing on banks.
Sources
Iran dismisses Trump’s post of attack on key energy hub of Kharg
Trump says Iran’s Kharg is being ‘blown to smithereens’, but gives no details
Trump posts AI video of Iran’s Kharg in ‘smithereens’, no evidence of attack
