In a mix of politics and humour, Iran shared an AI-made video making fun of US President Donald Trump over his claims about reopening the Strait of Hormuz released by the Iranian Embassy in Russia on Wednesday. The clip is inspired by the animated film Despicable Me and quickly went viral, catching global attention.
The video has come at a time when tensions in the region are high, and the Strait of Hormuz is still a very important and sensitive route for global oil supply. By using humour and animation, Iran has turned a serious issue into something that spreads quickly online.
At the same time, the real situation is quite different. Even after strong claims, shipping in the strait has not returned to normal, showing a gap between what is being said and what is actually happening.
AI satire targets Trump
In the video, Trump is shown as a minion floating on a wooden plank next to an American flag. "I'm going to count to three. When I open my eyes, the strait must be open," the character says.
However, nothing changes. The scene mocks his statement as unrealistic, using humour to question his authority over the situation.
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Iran highlights its control in the clip.
As the video continues, other minions representing countries like the UK, France, Japan, the UAE and Qatar are seen cheering. Meanwhile, an Iranian minion presses a red button, dropping a ‘warning’ tape across the strait.
This moment shows that Iran has strong control over the waterway, signifying Tehran's grip over the strategic waterway and its position during the ongoing conflict.
Why the Strait of Hormuz is important
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow route that connects the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, and it is very important for global energy supply. Around 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas passes through this route.
Reality of the Strait of Hormuz
Even though Trump said he is "permanently opening" the Strait of Hormuz, the real situation looks different. The route, which carries about 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas, is still facing problems. Ship movement has gone down a lot, with much fewer vessels passing through than usual.
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— إيرا٠بالØربية (@iraninarabic_ir) April 13, 2026
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Tensions impact global trade
The problem started when Iran blocked ships it saw as enemies because tensions with the US and Israel were rising. Because of this, ship movement dropped a lot, from more than 130 ships daily before the conflict to much fewer now. Even though there has been a two-week ceasefire since April 8, ship movement has not returned to normal and is still about 90% lower than usual.
According to analytics firm Kpler, only 58 ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Iran ceasefire began. Most of these ships were linked to Iran or to countries that Iran does not consider enemies.
This incident shows that modern conflicts are not just about war or politics, but also happen online. AI-made videos and jokes are now being used to influence people and send messages.
At the same time, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz shows real effects of these tensions. Even if the video is entertaining, the issue is still affecting global trade and energy supply.
