Hamid Bovard, head of the National Iranian Oil Company, dismissed the former president’s AI-generated video as laughable, insisting that operations on the island—which handles nearly 90% of the country’s oil exports—remain entirely normal. Despite the digital provocation, no physical damage to the facility has been verified.

Real-world violence, however, intensified as U.S. forces struck two rocket launchers on Larak Island. Central Command officials stated the move was a preemptive strike against IRGC units preparing to deploy sea mines within the Strait of Hormuz. Iran reported two deaths in the exchange and responded by targeting U.S. air bases in Jordan. Following these strikes, oil prices surged during early Monday trading in Asia, reflecting heightened volatility as both nations trade threats of further retaliation.