Trump goes on bizarre posting spree to attack Iran, puts his face on Tehran's map

A plunging rial, collapsing oil exports and a map of Iran with Donald Trump's face: this is how the US President packed his latest assault on Tehran with a rapid-fire series of Truth Social posts. The sequence appeared carefully aimed at reinforcing his message that US military and economic pressure is taking a big toll on Tehran, so much so that Iran's economy is now under siege.

Within about an hour, he posted seven Iran-related posts on his social media platform.

His first post was less about statistics and more about symbolism. It showed his face superimposed on a map of Iran, which was a visual flourish that fit with Trump's increasingly personal rhetoric over the conflict. Just days earlier, he had even floated renaming the strategic Strait of Hormuz to "TRUMP STRAIT".

He then turned to one of Iran's most important strategic pressure points -- the Strait of Hormuz.

A graphic titled "Hormuz Oil Volumes are BACK!" was posted, which shows a map of the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, alongside figures claiming oil volumes have recovered to 18 million barrels per day, compared with 20 million barrels per day before the conflict.

The Strait is a crucial artery for global energy supplies and has remained at the heart of the confrontation, with disruptions to shipping threatening to push up oil prices worldwide. The Trump administration has sought to keep oil moving through the waterway while maintaining pressure on Iran.

'IRAN'S OIL EXPORTS ARE CRASHING!'

Trump's next target was Iran's crude exports.

A graphic carrying the headline "IRAN'S OIL EXPORTS ARE CRASHING!" shows a chart falling dramatically from levels of around 2 million barrels per day in 2025 to near-zero levels in 2026, before showing a partial recovery.

The image fits squarely into his broader campaign to highlight the economic impact of sanctions and efforts through naval blockade to disrupt Iran's ability to sell oil. Tehran relies heavily on oil revenues, making exports a central battleground in the economic confrontation.

Iranian officials have acknowledged that the country is facing serious economic problems but have rejected the idea that US pressure will force Tehran to change course.

TRUMP TURNS TO IRAN'S PLUNGING RIAL

Two other graphics focused on Iran's currency.

One declared "IRAN HAS HYPERINFLATION", with a chart showing the rial weakening from around 900,000 to the US dollar in early 2025 to more than 2.27 million rials per dollar in the latest figures shown.

Another graphic delivered the message even more bluntly: "Iran's Currency is DESTROYED". It tracks the declining dollar value of one million rials, presenting the currency's collapse as another consequence of mounting economic pressure.

The new claims lands after Iranian officials themselves point to currency volatility, inflation, unemployment and market-management problems as major challenges. Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh has insisted, however, that responsibility for fixing Iran's economy lies with its own government and people rather than Washington.

'BYE BYE, KHARG'

Trump then shifted from charts to a far more dramatic image.

Under the words "Bye bye, Kharg", the AI-generated graphic shows a fighter jet racing towards an oil facility engulfed in explosions and flames. The imagery appears to evoke the possibility of an attack on Kharg Island, which is Iran's principal crude-export hub.

Kharg is strategically important because Iran has historically routed the overwhelming majority of its crude exports through the island. Any sustained disruption there would therefore strike at one of Tehran’s most important economic lifelines.

The image also echoes Trump's earlier use of AI-generated imagery involving Kharg. On August 31, he posted a AI video showing the island being "blown to smithereens". He has repeatedly claimed to destroy the crude-export hub.

'IRAN IS A FAILING NATION!'

Trump's barrage ended with a sweeping message. A final graphic, featuring a map of Iran, carried the words "Iran is a Failing Nation!"

Taken together, Trump's posts appeared designed to portray Iran as being squeezed from all sides -- with oil exports under pressure, the rial losing value, its key energy infrastructure facing threats and the Strait of Hormuz emerging as another major flashpoint.

TEHRAN VOWS TO RESIST PRESSURE

Meanwhile, Tehran itself acknowledges mounting economic pressure while insisting that sanctions will not force it to change course. Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said the government would respond with economic reforms, rejecting the idea that Washington could dictate Iran’s decisions.

"They speak of economic pressure and isolation, of breaking off financial ties and they think that by pressuring the economy of a country they can change the decisions of its people," Madanizadeh said.

"I have to clarify one point: The responsibility of reforming Iran's economy is with its government and people, not with the US Treasury."

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has meanwhile warned Washington that Tehran's response to further attacks would be severe, saying the "rules of the game have changed" and that any attack on Iran’s interests would receive a "faster, heavier and more painful response".

The escalation has also spilled into the maritime domain, with US Central Command saying it struck three Iranian tankers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at two US Navy ships.

- Ends