Donald Trump has seemingly threatened Iran with an attack as he shared on Sunday a new AI-generated image on Truth Social. The chilling image shows a military aircraft bearing the US flag flying above two vessels flying the Iranian flag.
Explosions rock both boats, with people seen flying overboard and in the air as a result of the blasts. The US President didn’t add any context or caption alongside this image, besides the word: “Adios”. The AI-generated picture, which appears to be a direct threat against Iran, was published just hours after Mr Trump announced Washington and Iran had “largely negotiated” a memorandum of understanding on a peace deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Mr Trump said the emerging agreement being brokered by Pakistan would reopen the strait, the vital shipping passage whose closure enforced by Iran in March has sparked a global energy crisis. The closure was a retaliatory measure taken by Iran following the decision by US and Israel to launch Operation Epic Fury on the country in late February.
The US president did not say what else would be included in an agreement.
Writing on his social media platform, the US leader said on Saturday: “Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on a visit to India, said more news could come on Sunday.
A senior Iranian source told Reuters that if Iran’s Supreme National Security Council approved the memorandum, it would be sent to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei – who has yet to make a public appearance since he replaced his late father – for final approval.
But Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency said differences remained over one or two clauses.
A few hours prior to Mr Trump’s latest threat, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said Iran was standing ready to hit back at the US and Israel if attacks were to resume.
The IRGC general command said: “The country’s powerful armed forces are at their highest level of readiness and active deterrence in all missile, air, naval, land, space and cyber dimensions. Therefore, it is obvious that any renewed aggression by the enemy will result in a devastating and hellish response at the regional and extra-regional level.”
Also on Sunday, the IRGC claimed to have allowed the passage of 33 ships through the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours.
