Washington, DC – US President Donald Trump sparked international controversy after posting a series of images and videos on his Truth Social platform depicting the destruction and sinking of large parts of the Iranian navy.
This move comes as part of his ongoing media escalation against Tehran following the recent military confrontation between the two sides. As a result, the region has once again been placed on a knife’s edge of mutual threats.
Targeting 159 Iranian ships
In his posts, Trump claimed that 159 Iranian naval vessels, which had been in service during the presidencies of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, were “sinking” during his presidency, describing it as a “decisive American military victory.”
He also shared an AI-generated image of himself aboard a U.S. destroyer, watching massive explosions at sea. This was part of a propaganda campaign designed to amplify political and military messages.
A sharp Iranian response: “This is not diplomacy.”
In response, Iran was quick to condemn the move. The Iranian ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri-Moghaddam, criticized the approach, stating, “This is not how diplomacy works.” He considered Trump’s use of “fabricated” images a desperate attempt to escalate the conflict and obscure the realities on the ground.
In Tehran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy issued strongly worded warnings. It asserted that any attack on Iranian oil tankers or commercial vessels would be met with an “unprecedented” military response.
Official media outlets quoted the IRGC as threatening that the response would not be limited to naval vessels. It would extend to a large-scale attack targeting US bases throughout the region in retaliation for any provocation on the ground.
This media exchange coincides with heightened security concerns following the “Doha missile” incident near the Qatari coast.
Observers believe this digital and verbal escalation signals a new phase of geopolitical confrontation. This phase could threaten global energy flows through vital waterways.
