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Published 13:33 12 Jun 2026 GMT
An Iranian state television channel has reportedly blamed an "editing mistake" after briefly airing footage that appeared to show a nuclear explosion over a city, leaving viewers stunned and prompting widespread discussion online.
The clip was broadcast by Iran's state-run broadcaster IRIB at a particularly tense moment for the region, as questions continue over the future of Iran's nuclear program and negotiations aimed at ending the latest conflict with the United States.
Footage aired by the broadcaster appeared to depict a massive nuclear detonation above an urban area, complete with a towering mushroom cloud.
The brief segment quickly drew attention on social media, with viewers questioning why such footage had appeared on state television amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
Some users speculated the footage could have been a warning, propaganda, or an intentional political message.
However, the broadcaster later addressed the incident. According to reports, IRIB said the clip was shown as the result of an internal editing error and was not intended to be broadcast.
The station reportedly described the incident as a mistake rather than a deliberate transmission.
The incident comes as diplomatic efforts continue between Tehran and Washington following months of military tensions and concerns over the possibility of a wider regional conflict.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump claimed a breakthrough had been reached in talks involving Iran.
"I don't know if you heard, but we ended the war with Iran today," Trump said.
The president also suggested that discussions relating to Iran's nuclear program had reached their final stages.
Earlier, Trump wrote on social media that "discussions and final points" had been approved by all parties involved, adding that a location and time for a formal signing would be announced shortly.
Iran has not publicly confirmed the claims, and details of any potential agreement remain unclear.
While broadcasters occasionally air simulations or archive material as part of news packages and documentaries, the appearance of a nuclear explosion graphic on state television inevitably attracted scrutiny given the ongoing focus on Iran's nuclear capabilities.
The clip also emerged against a backdrop of continued uncertainty across the Middle East, where ceasefire efforts and diplomatic negotiations remain fragile.
For now, Iranian state media maintains the footage was never meant to be aired.
But despite the broadcaster's explanation, the brief appearance of a simulated nuclear blast has become the latest moment to capture global attention during an already volatile period for the region.
Published 15:02 26 Jun 2025 GMT
Published 10:30 24 Jun 2025 GMT
Iranian state media has shared a chilling image featuring President Donald Trump to its social media pages, which many are believing to be an ominous threat the United States.
On Monday (June 24) Iran launched a missile strike on a U.S. military installation in Qatar, in what officials described as a response to recent American airstrikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The strike targeted Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts U.S. and coalition forces and serves as the headquarters of the Combined Air Operations Center.
Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that its air defense systems intercepted the incoming missiles, calling the incident "a flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, its airspace, and international law," BBC News reports.
According to Iranian state media, the number of missiles fired was equivalent to the number of bombs the U.S. used in its weekend strikes on nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. The Iranian government stated that the attack was a proportional response to what it described as an act of aggression, per The Independent. No casualties have been reported.
U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed the full extent of damage, but CNN reported that Iran issued a warning ahead of the strike, which may have mitigated the impact.
President Donald Trump responded to the development on Truth Social, stating: “Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their ‘system,’ and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE.” He added: “Congratulations world, it's time for peace.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also addressed the situation on X, writing: “We neither initiated the war nor [are] seeking it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran without answer.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s state-licensed Iran News Agency published a digitally altered image of Trump’s head engulfed in flames, positioned at the tip of a burning matchstick over a U.S. flag.
The image, shared to Telegram, included a caption in English reading: “The reckoning. It won't be long before you pay for what you've done.”
U.S. officials have not formally responded to the image (as of this writing).
The escalation follows U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. In a televised address, Trump stated: “Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat. Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success.”
In response, Iranian state television aired footage of its retaliatory missile launch, accompanied by martial music, hailing it as “a mighty and successful response” to the U.S. assault.
Simultaneously, Iran ramped up its confrontation with Israel. Mere hours after the 79-year-old U.S. President declared a ceasefire on Tuesday morning, Iranian forces launched missiles toward northern Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its air defense systems intercepted incoming projectiles, warning civilians: “The public is requested to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command. At this time, the Air Force is operating to intercept and strike wherever necessary to eliminate the threat,” per Fox News.
Though Iran claimed to have ended its retaliation at 4:00AM, missile sirens blared again around 6:00AM. One missile ended up hitting a residential building in southern Israel, killing four civilians and injuring at least a dozen more.
Per BBC News, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared: “Israel will respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire.” He emphasized that the Rising Lion campaign had “removed the dual immediate existential threat” posed by Iran’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
Now in its twelfth day, the conflict has inflicted heavy losses on both sides. According to Human Rights Activists cited by the Associated Press, Israeli strikes have killed at least 950 people and injured 3,450 more in Iran, a toll comprising both military and civilian casualties.
Published 09:44 26 Mar 2026 GMT
A strange video (see above) shared by the official White House X account has left many social media users alarmed and confused. The video, which was posted without explanation, stirred fears of a major military action, particularly concerning tensions with Iran.
However, the cryptic nature of the footage has led to a wave of speculation, making everyone wonder if something serious is in the works. The video, which was deleted shortly after being posted, showed an unclear view of what appeared to be a woman’s boots.
A female voice asking, "It's launching soon, right?" added to the mystery. The rapid removal of the video only fueled the public’s concerns.
Within an hour, the video received significant attention, with over 1,500 comments, many of which were filled with anxiety and speculation. Some viewers even questioned whether the voice belonged to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The lack of context or explanation surrounding the clip made it even more unsettling, with the phrase "It’s launching soon, right?" sparking fears that it could be referring to a military strike, possibly involving missiles or troops.
Some users went as far as to suggest it hinted at a nuclear strike. The situation was further exacerbated by the fact that the video was quickly removed from the account.
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As the video went viral, numerous social media users voiced their concerns and confusion. One user even asked, "Nuclear bomb?" Others were quick to react, with some expressing dread and others trying to keep a sense of humor about it.
One, for instance, humorously remarked, "White House account accidentally drops 'It's launching soon right?' with zero context." However, not everyone shared this lightheartedness.
Some users felt that the video signaled a major escalation in the ongoing conflict with Iran, while others wondered if it was a mistake or a glitch. A concerned user posted, "We're going to die aren’t we :-(".
Amid the chaotic responses, some people questioned the practicality of the situation, with one user asking, "Should we be worried?" and another seriously considering if they should prepare for a possible disaster: "Should I get in my underground bunker?"
The unsettling tone of the responses showed just how much the video had unnerved the public, who are already on edge due to rising tensions in the Middle East.
While the video remains a topic of intense debate, the White House has not provided any clarification or comment regarding the cryptic message.
The press office has yet to address the situation. With no official explanation, the speculation continues to grow, and people are left wondering if they were witnessing a slip-up or if the message was an intentional hint at something much more serious.
As the world waits for further information, many are left in suspense, unsure of what to make of the unexpected post and its swift deletion.
Published 13:03 08 May 2026 GMT
Donald Trump seems to have been caught in the act of shouting a slur at a female reporter after she asked about Iran.
Two lip readers believe this to be the case, as her question caused the US President to lose his cool and snap in front of the press.
It was reported by BBC earlier today (May 8) that Iran's top military command claimed that the US had targeted an Iranian oil tanker and another vessel approaching the Strait of Hormuz, along with a number of "aerial attacks".
The US also said that Iran launched missiles, drones and small boats on three of its warships in an "unprovoked attack," just one day after Iran's foreign ministry hinted that they were considering a US proposal to end the war.
Despite this exchange, Donald Trump claims that a ceasefire is still in place, though he said of Iran's actions that they "trifled with us today".
ABC's Rachel Scott asked a question that seemed to get to Trump on Thursday, as he was visiting the under-renovation Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool.
She said: "Mr President, you are here against the backdrop of a war in Iran, why focus on all these projects right now? We're still seeing gas prices soar."
Enraged, Trump replied: "You know why? Because I want to keep our country beautiful and safe, beautiful also.
"This place was a disgusting place, it was Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and we had a terrible, I don't know you probably don't see dirt but I do."
That wasn't all though, as The Mirror US reports that he further added: "Such a stupid question you ask. We're fixing up the reflecting pond to the Lincoln Memorial of the Washington Monument and you say 'Why are you fixing it up?'
"Because you can understand dirt maybe better than I can but I don't allow it. This is one of the worst reporters. She's with ABC fake news and she's a horror show."
He then called the question a "disgrace to our country," and after he was done asking questions, cameras caught the President pointing towards the reporters, saying something to his team, and then shaking his head.
While no microphones picked up what he said, two professional lip readers said that it was a continuation of his attack on the journalist.
Camera footage suggests that the US leader called the reporter a "b***h", as a qualified forensic expert witness lip reader named Jeremy Freeman confirmed.
He explained: "I can confirm that Trump said, 'She’s a b***h there.'"
Freeman, who was born deaf, relies primarily on lip reading - and he's not alone in seeing Trump direct some not-so-nice words towards the journalist.
Nicola Hickling, another lip reader who is profoundly deaf, concluded that while it is hard to be certain about a word like that, "due to the context of what was said beforehand, I believe Trump says the word b***h."
She did caveat this by explaining that some speech sounds "share identical or near identical mouth movements, known as visemes," explaining that the word in question behinds with the B sound, but this also could be perceived as a P or an M
But in "b***h," the middle vowel is less distinctive than "pitch," with the final "ch" sound also "partially visible through slight lip tension and narrowing of the mouth."
She explained that expert lipreading doesn't rely only on mouth shape - context, dacial expression, body language, and other factors play a role too.
Journalist Rachel Scott commented on the incident online, posting the clip and writing: "I asked the president why focus on these projects now amid the backdrop of the war in Iran and as gas prices soar,
"He said the question was 'stupid' and a 'disgrace to the country' saying he’s 'fixing' the reflecting pool," she added.
Those online weren't best pleased either, as one user wrote: "Gold ballrooms, arcs, Bibles, treason planes from our adversaries costing American tax payers $1 billion, Trump coins/money, crypto and now his phony, ugly ass on our passports. All this while Americans are suffering, gas/grocery prices are at their highest. Trump is the b***h."
Another penned: "As a country, we’ve become really desensitized to how much of an embarrassment Trump is on a daily basis.
"Obama wore a tan suit, and it was a scandal on cable news for a week," one X user wrote."
A third added: "Disinhibition, so his true self is shining through in more public settings."
Published 11:06 05 Mar 2026 GMT
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt found herself at the center of widespread social media ridicule on Wednesday after offering an unusual explanation for President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb Iran.
The administration has already given multiple justifications for the strikes.
But during a press briefing, Leavitt appeared to introduce yet another reason - one critics quickly summarized as being based largely on “vibes”.
Her remarks came as reporters pressed the White House for clarity about what exactly prompted the military operation.
During Wednesday’s press briefing, a reporter from The Independent challenged the administration’s explanation for the military action, asking why officials still had not clearly outlined the threat that justified the operation.
Specifically, the reporter asked why the administration “can’t say what the imminent threat against the United States was” that required the US to launch Operation Epic Fury.
Leavitt responded by promising to clarify the president’s reasoning behind the decision.
She told reporters that she would “explain to you exactly what led the president to make the decision.”
According to Leavitt, the decision to carry out the strike wasn’t tied to a single event but rather a broader pattern of threats from Iran.
“This decision to launch this operation was based on a cumulative effect of various direct threats that Iran posed to the United States of America, and the president’s feeling, based on fact, that Iran does pose an imminent and direct threat to the United States of America,” she said.
Leavitt described Iran as “the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism,” while also claiming the country was “rapidly and aggressively building up” its missile programme.
She also accused Iran of being “hellbent on death and destruction.”
The press secretary continued by emphasizing that Trump’s decision ultimately came from his assessment of the situation, which she said was grounded in both intelligence and instinct.
“The president had a feeling, again, based on fact, that Iran was going to strike the United States, was going to strike our assets in the region, and he made a determination to launch Operation Epic Fury based on all of those reasons.”
However, the phrasing immediately caught attention online.
Leavitt’s explanation quickly sparked mockery across social media platforms, where users highlighted the wording of her comments.
Many pointed out the irony that conservatives have long embraced the phrase “facts don’t care about your feelings,” popularized by podcaster Ben Shapiro.
Given that context, critics argued the press secretary’s repeated references to the president’s “feeling” about the threat stood out.
As the clip circulated online, the phrasing became a focal point for critics questioning the administration’s evolving explanations for Operation Epic Fury.
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