Iran Calls Trump’s Claim of Attack on Kharg Island ‘Ridiculous’

Iran has denied US President Donald Trump’s claim that the United States is attacking or destroying Kharg Island, a key hub for the country’s oil exports. Hamid Bovard, head of the National Iranian Oil Company, said oil operations on the island remain unaffected.

Reuters, citing Iran’s Nournews, reported that Bovard rejected claims that the strategically important oil facility on Kharg Island had been destroyed.

Earlier, Trump claimed that Kharg Island, one of Iran’s most important energy hubs, was being “blown up.” In a one-line post on social media on Sunday, he made the claim and shared a video showing what appeared to be an explosion.

Reuters, however, found that the video clip was likely generated using artificial intelligence.

Responding to Trump’s post, Bovard said, “Trump’s tweets are ridiculous, and the situation on Kharg is calm.” He said the island handles around 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports.

Bovard also said US and Israeli forces had previously bombed the island, but oil workers had never allowed operations to stop, even briefly.

He added that contractors are currently working to rebuild and modernize oil storage tanks and jetties on the island.

Source: Dawn