Even as Donald Trump claims he ordered a halt to attacks on Iran to create an opportunity for diplomacy, he has simultaneously turned once again to propaganda and psychological warfare by publishing a series of AI-generated images. The images, portraying scenarios ranging from an "attack on Kharg Island" to the "seizure of an Iranian oil tanker," are less a reflection of realities on the ground than an effort to reconstruct the image of a strong leader facing mounting domestic and international challenges.
One image depicts an airstrike on Kharg Island, while another shows Trump standing alongside US troops aboard an oil tanker, with the Iranian flag lying on the deck beneath the slogan, “Now this tanker belongs to us.” He has also released AI-generated images portraying himself as the “savior of America” and even alongside John F. Kennedy, moves that primarily reflect political narcissism and an effort to build a mythic narrative around himself.
AI in the Service of Narrative Warfare
Trump’s use of AI-generated imagery cannot be dismissed as ordinary political promotion. These images form part of a broader cognitive and psychological campaign aimed at shaping public opinion, controlling the media narrative, and even influencing financial markets. Yet the wide gap between these visual narratives and developments on the ground has led many to view them less as displays of strength than as attempts to conceal strategic failures.
Depicting attacks on Kharg Island or the seizure of an Iranian tanker while simultaneously calling for de-escalation highlights a clear contradiction between Trump’s diplomatic rhetoric and his visual propaganda, further undermining the credibility of these narratives.
When Piracy Is Framed as a Badge of Honor
The most significant message embedded in the images is the normalization, and even glorification, of conduct that openly conflicts with international law and freedom of navigation. Regardless of its propagandistic nature, the depiction of seizing an Iranian oil tanker reflects a mindset that continues to rely on coercion, economic terrorism, and maximum pressure to pursue political objectives.
The approach again raises serious questions for Western governments and international institutions, many of which, according to NATO officials and some European authorities, have supported Washington’s and Israel’s policies. Remaining silent in the face of such narratives not only undermines Western claims of defending the international order but also reinforces perceptions that double standards continue to shape Western conduct.
Under such circumstances, it is natural for Iran to place greater emphasis on the intelligent management of the Strait of Hormuz, while other regional actors increasingly rely on their own geopolitical leverage to ensure security and deterrence. From their perspective, these images are not merely media spectacles but reflections of a mindset that treats threats as a permanent instrument of foreign policy.
Behind the Display of Strength: A Chain of Hidden Setbacks
Trump’s media campaign must also be viewed against realities on the ground. An Axios report citing Admiral Brad Cooper, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned of shortages in air-defense interceptors and the resulting impact on the security of US forces, facts that stand in sharp contrast to the White House’s promotional narrative.
Meanwhile, a joint CBS News–YouGov poll found that a majority of Americans feel discouraged, skeptical, or pessimistic about war with Iran, while only a small minority remain optimistic. A significant share of younger Americans favors ending the conflict rather than continuing it. The findings indicate that confrontational policies have failed to generate domestic consensus and have instead intensified economic and security concerns, eroding the administration’s political capital.
Reality on the Ground: Where Propaganda Fades
At the same time, a CNN report on updated Pentagon casualty figures revealed another dimension of the conflict. According to the report, the number of wounded US personnel has risen by more than 140, while four previously unreported fatalities have been restored to the official casualty list. Under the revised figures, total US casualties since the outbreak of hostilities stand at 18 killed and 624 wounded, marking a significant increase over earlier announcements.
For a president seeking to present the conflict as a low-cost and successful war, the release of these figures could become one of his most serious political and electoral liabilities. From this perspective, the glossy AI-generated imagery appears less a symbol of power than an attempt to bridge the widening gap between promotional narratives and battlefield realities, a gap that grows deeper by the day and is becoming increasingly difficult to conceal through Hollywood-style imagery.
NOURNEWS