US strikes on Iran spark fresh wave of disinformation
Soofia Tariq
June 24, 2025
WHAT WAS CLAIMED
Videos show the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites.
OUR VERDICT
False. The “footage” is AI-generated.
AAP FactCheck – The US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites has led to a fresh wave of disinformation on social media.
Among the falsehoods being shared are supposed videos of the strikes generated by artificial intelligence (AI), fake images of downed US aircraft, and bogus political resignation letters.
The posts appeared on social media following US President Donald Trump’s announcement that the US military had carried out precision strikes on three key nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
One Facebook video1, with the overlaid text “usa attack irani nuclear site”, seemingly shows plumes of smoke and fire in the distance, viewed from an apartment balcony.
A reverse image search, however, reveals it was debunked on X2 before the strikes even occurred.
The clip was originally posted on TikTok3 by a user who regularly posts AI explosion videos4, with the creator labelling it “AI-generated” underneath.
Another Facebook video5 claiming to show explosions from the Fordow nuclear site had been posted on YouTube6 before the strikes took place.
Meanwhile, a Facebook video7 claiming to show Iran successfully testing a nuclear weapon is also AI-generated.
A watermark at the bottom of the video credits “@laughasores”, a YouTube8 account with the description “… high-quality AI simulations … for entertainment purposes only”.
Another widely shared video posted to Facebook9 and Instagram10 claiming to show the US strike on Fordow is also false.
A reverse image search reveals the footage is from December 2024, when Israel conducted strikes on Syrian military sites11.
Additionally, claims images on Facebook12 show downed US aircraft are also fake.
AI giveaways include an emergency worker at the bottom left of the image merging with the background, and the shape of the engine fans on the wings contrasted with official photographs13 of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.
There have also been no reports of any incidents with the bombers involved, with all safely returning to the US military base in Missouri, according to NBC News14 footage.
Claims on Facebook15 that Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has resigned after the US strikes are also false.
Posts use a screenshot of a supposed resignation letter, but there are no credible reports that he has resigned.
Instead, Mr Pezeshkian joined protesters16 in Tehran the day after the strikes and, on Monday, June 23, said the US17 “must receive a response for their aggression”.
AAP FactCheck is an accredited member of the International Fact-Checking Network18. To keep up with our latest fact checks, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads19, X, BlueSky20, TikTok21 and YouTube22. (AAP)
