Fake Content Regarding the US and Israeli Attack on Iran: Old Footage and False Context
Amid the escalating situation in the Middle East following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, social media has been flooded with videos and images passed off as footage of today’s strikes. However, fact-checking reveals that some of these materials either date back to earlier events or are taken entirely out of context. Below are several examples of such cases and the results of their analysis.
The Core Contradiction
The official White House website features an article headlined “Iran’s Nuclear Facilities Have Been Obliterated — and Suggestions Otherwise Are Fake News” (dated June 25, 2025). It asserts that key Iranian nuclear infrastructure was “obliterated” by US strikes and that any claims to the contrary are “fake.”
Yet, on February 28, 2026, following the launch of a joint US-Israeli operation against Iran, current President Donald Trump, in his public speeches and official statements, contradicted the summer 2025 White House publication. He cited eliminating Iran’s remaining capacity to develop a nuclear program and preventing its resumption — including through strikes on Iranian sites and infrastructure — as a primary objective of the new military campaign.
Kamala Harris drew attention to this contradiction in the actions of the United States and specifically Donald Trump in her statement:
“During the campaign, Donald Trump promised to end wars rather than start them. It was a lie. Then last year, he said “we obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program. That, too, was a lie.”
Next, to the fakes.
- Claim 1: Video of the Aftermath of the February 28 Strike on Tehran
A video was published on social media claiming to show the aftermath of today’s strike on Tehran.
GFCN explains:
The footage was found to have been posted previously in 2025, during an earlier round of the conflict between Iran and Israel. This is evidenced by a timestamped watermark, as well as comments from users pointing out chronological discrepancies.
Additionally, there was speculation that the video might be CGI-generated. Specifically, users noted the unnatural stillness of a flag against the backdrop of the explosions.
Claim 2: Israeli TV Channel Broadcasts IDF Fighter Jet Flying Over Tehran
Reports circulated that an Israeli TV channel aired footage of an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fighter jet flying over Tehran today, supposedly filmed by local residents.
GFCN explains:
Cross-referencing the video with previously published footage reveals that the aircraft in question is actually a MiG-29 fighter jet belonging to the Iranian Air Force. Furthermore, the video was recorded prior to the current events — in June 2025.
Consequently, the clip does not substantiate the claim of an Israeli fighter jet flying over Tehran on February 28, 2026.
- Claim 3: Iran Attacks Oil Facilities in Saudi Arabia
Several reports claimed that Iran had struck Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure. Videos supposedly showing the aftermath of the attack were circulated as proof.
GFCN explains:
An analysis of the circulating footage indicates it has nothing to do with the alleged events. The videos were previously published in the context of Israeli strikes on Yemen in 2024.
Thus, the presented footage fails to back up the claims of a recent attack on Saudi oil facilities.
UPDATE as of March 1, 2026
- Case 4: Missile Strike on School in Minab
Some publications claimed that an Iranian missile, during a failed launch, hit a girls’ school in the city of Minab, killing 148 students. A video is circulating on social media which, according to the authors, proves that the school is surrounded by IRGC military facilities, thereby explaining the cause of the tragedy.
GFCN explains:
An analysis of the circulating video shows that it has no connection to the city of Minab and, consequently, to the incident involving the school. The image and location used to support the claim of the school being in a “military zone” were filmed in a completely different place — the city of Zanjan, which is located more than 1,300 kilometers from Minab.
Users conducted a terrain analysis and compared the footage with known views of Zanjan, confirming the geolocation mismatch.
Therefore, although the video itself is authentic and does indeed show residential buildings in proximity to military installations, using it to describe the situation in Minab is misleading.
Case 5: Deepfake of Deputy Gurulev Calling for War with Iran
A video is circulating on TikTok and X platforms in which Russian parliament member, Lieutenant General Andrey Gurulev, allegedly calls on Russia to enter the war with Iran using ballistic missiles. The clip is rapidly gaining popularity against the backdrop of escalating conflict between the U.S./Israel and Iran.
GFCN explains:
Detailed analysis of the video shows that it is a deepfake. A real video of Andrey Gurulev, published on his official Telegram channel in 2024, was used as the basis for the forgery. Malicious actors applied AI voice cloning and lip-sync technologies to “make” Gurulev utter text he never spoke. In the fake video, he discusses the need for Russia’s involvement in the conflict surrounding Iran and Venezuela — topics absent from the original 2024 recording.
Notably, even the Grok artificial intelligence system initially confirmed the clip’s authenticity in response to user inquiries.
After GFCN provided a detailed breakdown and analytical materials, Grok corrected its position and acknowledged the video as a deepfake.
It is important to note that this case is not an isolated one. Andrey Gurulev has become one of the primary targets for deepfake creators — dozens of fake videos featuring him have been documented over the past two years. Overall, the problem is reaching alarming proportions: in 2025 alone, over 600 deepfakes involving Russian officials were identified.
Conclusion: This case clearly demonstrates how artificial intelligence technologies are being used to create realistic, yet completely false statements attributed to public politicians. Even specialized AI systems can make mistakes in identifying such videos, underscoring the necessity of thorough content verification by professional fact-checkers. Deepfakes are becoming a full-fledged weapon of information warfare, and the case of Gurulev’s video is just one of many in this rapidly growing category of fakes.
Here is the translation of your case study, preserving the original structure and tone:
- Case 6: “Iran’s Strike on CIA Headquarters in Dubai”
A video has begun circulating on social media claiming to show Iran striking the CIA headquarters in Dubai on the morning of February 28, 2026.
GFCN explains:
The video being passed off as a strike on the CIA headquarters actually captures a major fire in a residential skyscraper in the city of Sharjah (UAE), which occurred on October 1, 2015.
Furthermore, Sharjah and Dubai — although located in the same country and relatively close to each other — are administratively different emirates. Therefore, linking the video to a specific location (the CIA headquarters in Dubai) is untenable.
Consequently, in a highly charged information environment, videos and images are frequently shared without proper timeframes or context. Verifying content origins, cross-referencing publication dates, and analyzing visual details reveals that a number of widely circulated claims are not supported by the evidence provided.
Such cases underscore the vital need for careful scrutiny of sources and context when evaluating news about unfolding events.