US President Donald Trump has reshared a year-old photograph of an Israeli strike on an Iranian oil depot, presenting it as evidence of a recent US military attack on Iran. The image, originally captured on June 15, 2025, depicts fire and smoke rising from the Shahran oil depot in Tehran after an Israeli airstrike. Trump posted it on Truth Social on July 8, 2026, with the caption: "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 clarifying that the image was not new. The US launched fresh strikes on Iran following attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz earlier that week, according to reports. The strait, through which 20% of all globally traded oil passes, has become a flashpoint in the conflict that escalated after joint US-Israeli strikes targeted multiple Iranian sites in February 2025.
Peace Agreement Undermined
After months of warfare, the US and Iran had reached a peace agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. On June 17, 2025, both nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to end the war within 60 days. Under the MoU, Iran pledged to restore merchant vessel transit through the strait to pre-war levels within 30 days, while the US agreed to lift its naval blockade and restore full traffic within 30 days of signing. However, the latest outbreak of hostilities has jeopardized these peace efforts.
Trump Declares Ceasefire Over
At a NATO summit in Türkiye on July 8, 2026, Trump declared the ceasefire "over," telling journalists: "I don't want to deal with them anymore. They're scum." Following his remarks, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that US forces were initiating additional strikes on Iran to "further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," under orders from the president.
