US missile hits Iran," wrote one TikTok user on a video that shows a massive explosion near or inside a city, with a mushroom-shaped cloud of smoke rising into the sky. Other versions of the same video have appeared across platforms like X and YouTube, reaching millions of users in different languages.

Original publisher’s rating

Fake The video is generated with artificial intelligence, and has no connection to the actual US strike on nuclear sites in Iran. The earliest known source of the clip is a social media account that clearly states in its description that all of its content is AI-generated. A reverse image search of key frames shows the footage appeared online several days before the operation, with some posts then falsely claiming it depicted an Iranian missile strike on Israel. There are multiple visual indicators that the video is not authentic. The glow from the explosion, for instance, fails to cast realistic light or reflections on nearby buildings or smoke. The urban layout features Soviet-style buildings, which are uncharacteristic of Iranian cities. Moreover, none of Iran's nuclear facilities targeted in the strike are located near large urban centers like the one depicted here.

Reviewed by Deutsche Welle ↗ · June 24, 2025