US President Donald Trump reshared a photograph of an Israeli strike on an Iranian oil depot from June 2025, claiming it depicted a recent US attack on Iran. The image, showing fire and smoke rising from the Shahran oil depot in Tehran, was originally from an Israeli operation on June 15, 2025. Trump posted it on Truth Social on July 8, 2026, writing: "This is in retribution for yesterday's bombing of ships by Iran. If it happens again, it will get much worse!"
Misleading Post and Correction
The post included a screenshot from a news outlet, which later issued a correction stating the image was not from July 8. Trump's claim came after several ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz earlier that week, prompting a fresh wave of US strikes on Iran. The Strait, through which 20% of global oil passes, has been a flashpoint in the conflict that began after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian sites in February 2026.
Peace Deal Jeopardized
After months of conflict, the US and Iran reached a peace understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. On June 17, 2026, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to end the war within 60 days. Under the MoU, Iran agreed to restore merchant ship movements from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman to pre-war volume within 30 days, while the US pledged to lift its naval blockade and restore traffic within 30 days. However, the latest clash has hampered peace efforts.
Trump Declares Ceasefire Over
At a NATO summit in Türkiye on Wednesday, Trump declared the ceasefire "over," telling reporters: "I don't want to deal with them anymore. They're scum." The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced later that evening that US forces were launching additional strikes on Iran under Trump's orders to "further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz."
