Iran

Did Middle East Eye publish a video report saying that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan agreed to let Ukraine set up drone manufacturing plants in Armenia? No, that's not true: No such report appeared on the media company's website. It could not be found on the outlet's social media accounts, either. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) published…

Is a video that shows Joe Rogan saying he is considering refusing to commentate the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fight at the White House legitimate? No, that's not true: The video was labeled "Contains AI-generated media." Rogan did criticize the event on his podcast, saying he does not like the idea of fighting outside, but he did not say he…

Has President Donald Trump been out of public view for eight straight days as of early June 2026? No, that's not true: In the eight days preceding June 3, 2026, the president was seen by White House press pool reporters on multiple days. Trump also pre-recorded an interview with the New York Post on June 2, 2026, which was published…

Does a meme accurately show a real "epic moment" exchange between Trump and Obama about Iran nuclear deals? No, that's not true: There is no evidence that such an exchange ever took place on social media or anywhere else. Lead Stories found no credible news coverage documenting the alleged incident. The claim appeared in a post (archived here) by the…

Does a video show an actual U.S. strike on the Iranian drone carrier IRIS Shahid Bagheri or any Iranian aircraft carrier? No, that's not true: The clip is AI-generated and labeled "Made with AI." An AI detection tool also concluded that the video was "likely AI-generated." Additionally, visual and audio analysis revealed U.S. fighter jets on the flight deck and…

Was President Donald Trump unable to attend the wedding of his son, Donald Trump Jr., in The Bahamas on May 23, 2026, because the country would not allow him entry under its immigration laws? No, that's not true: There is no evidence The Bahamas barred Trump from entering, and its immigration law does not explicitly prohibit entry for those found…

Is a video of Fox News guest retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward circulating on social media real and taken from the original broadcast? Yes, that's true: Harward, a former deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, appeared on Fox News on May 19, 2026, to provide expert analysis on the war with Iran. The videos and images circulating on social media…

Does a real video show a U.S. warship on fire after an Iranian attack? No, that's not true: An AI-generated content detection tool rated the video as "likely to be AI-generated." There are also several other signs that the video was likely made with AI or digitally altered, including unnatural-looking fire and smoke, unrealistic water movement, and slight warping or…

Did President Donald Trump, in a social media post, repeat the protest slogan "MERZ, LICK EGGS" about the German chancellor and suggest the United States might "take over" Germany? No, that's not true: The supposed post does not appear on the president's official Truth Social account, and there are no reliable reports that it ever did. Trump has been critical…

Does a video show a double missile strike by Iran on a U.S. ship during hostile action in May 2026? No, that's not true: The clip resurfaced in social media posts falsely claiming it showed an Iranian strike near Jask Island, but it actually comes from a 2016 live-fire exercise conducted by the U.S. Navy and its allies in the…