SAEDNEWS: The widespread circulation of an old video falsely claiming a fire at the founder of the Islamic Republic’s home exposed another layer of a hostile hybrid campaign aimed at stirring domestic unrest and paving the way for foreign interference.
Technical analysis shows that a viral video claiming a fire at the founder of the Islamic Republic’s home in Khomein is actually a clumsy reuse of 2022 footage from the same city.
An Iraqi media outlet had circulated the clip, falsely claiming the fire occurred in Tehran. Within minutes, archival checks and geographic differences exposed the claim as fake.
Strategic analysts say such waves of disinformation are not mere media errors but part of a complex “cognitive war” targeting Iran’s national security. Tactics include:
Psychological unrest: Targeting symbols of authority to create instability.
Inciting chaos: Turning peaceful protests into street violence through fake news.
Justifying foreign attacks: Internal disorder provides pretexts for intervention by external powers.
Ultimate goal: Weakening central authority and fostering ethnic and religious divisions to fragment Iran.
Recycling old footage and misplacing events is a recurring tactic of hostile media. Awareness, verifying sources, and checking image histories online remain the key defenses against these manipulative campaigns.
