Has the Iranian regime "released" new images of "its own defeat" against Israel? Accounts critical of Iran on X have been circulating a four-video compilation claiming to show Iranian military command centres destroyed by Israeli bombing during last June's 12-day war.
The clips – each seemingly captured by a surveillance camera – show uniformed personnel inside offices moments before a devastating explosion rips through the facility.
Among those sharing these images on X is “Shayan X”, an account with 40,000 followers which identifies itself as a supporter of the heir to Reza Pahlavi, the deposed shah of Iran and an opponent of the Islamic regime. Its post, shared on December 1, garnered more than three million views.
Meanwhile, other pro-Israeli accounts claim the images are actually leaks circulated on social media. “Tehran is scrambling to control the narrative… but the images are already spreading across Persian social media,” writes the pro-Israeli account “Mossad Commentary” in a post that was viewed more than two million times.
Only one clip is genuine
But what do we know about these four “new” video clips? It turns out that only one of the videos is authentic; it was, in fact, released by the Iranian regime in late November.
This clip – the third part of the video compilation – comes from a segment aired by Iranian state media. The video clearly shows the logo of SNN TV, Iran’s official news agency.
The sequence included a surveillance video filmed just a few seconds before an Israeli strike conducted during the 12-day war in June 2025. Interviewed for the segment broadcast by Iranian media, Iranian Brigadier General Reza Khajeh claimed that the footage showed soldiers who chose to remain at an air defence site despite the warning of an incoming strike. Our team wasn’t able to independently verify this information.
Three AI-generated clips
As for the other three clips, none were broadcast by Iranian media. In fact, all three were generated by AI, as highlighted by BBC verification specialist journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh in the first hours after the video's publication.
Among the errors pointed out by the journalist were: "wrong military rank patches and uniforms, odd hands and objects on desks and cabinets, staff continuing to work as usual even after the explosions, and no damage to alleged CCTV cameras".
While it is becoming increasingly difficult to detect traces of AI generation in visual content as tools advance, several visual and factual details and inconsistencies confirm that these are fake sequences.
In the first clip, for instance, the map of the Middle East displayed on the wall incorrectly represents the borders of the Persian Gulf (in red below).
Several anomalies are also noticeable after the explosion: one of the analysts remains seated at his computer despite the blast, and a coffee machine near the explosion remains undisturbed.
In the second clip, a detail characteristic of poorly generated AI videos is visible: the numbers on a digital wall clock are incorrectly written, and the seconds shown in the video do not follow the correct numerical sequence.
Other elements also suggest the video is fabricated, such as the disappearance of a white object placed on one of the desks.
There are indications that the compilation's final segment was generated by AI, as well. For instance, two military figures share the same face, and the background features several anomalies throughout the video, including a plug that changes shape three times.
Account with a history of AI-generated videos
The video's origin also points to an account known for sharing AI-generated videos. The compilation shared by various online accounts features the name of an Instagram account with over 100,000 followers that frequently posts content hostile to the Iranian regime.
On November 19, this account notably posted several AI-created videos mocking Iranian leader Ali Khamenei and extolling the power of the Israeli military. Another compilation of supposed surveillance footage shows Iranian clerics embracing women in their offices. For several of these videos, multiple visual inconsistencies also serve as evidence that the images are AI-generated. The Observers team reached out to the account for more information regarding these videos, but received no response.
This misleading content has circulated beyond anti-Iranian circles. As identified by the RFI fact-checking team, this compilation was shared by regional media outlets, particularly in Lebanon.
This article has been translated from the original in French.