As the Israel-Iran conflict, sparked by Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion” on June 13, 2025, enters its second week, Iran has intensified its propaganda efforts with an AI-generated video depicting the destruction of Israeli buildings.
Posted on X by @nexta_tv on June 13, 2025, the video shows plumes of smoke and fire erupting from structures, with a child’s teddy bear lying on the floor, symbolizing civilian devastation. Iranian state media released the clip as a warning to Israel, threatening “bloody revenge” in response to Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure.
The video, which has garnered significant attention online, is part of a broader wave of AI-driven disinformation identified by BBC Verify, with fake clips related to the conflict amassing over 100 million views across platforms. Such propaganda often exaggerates Iran’s military successes, including false claims of destroying Israeli F-35 jets or depicting missile barrages on Tel Aviv. One widely shared AI video falsely claimed to show Tel Aviv’s destruction, with collapsed buildings and a location stamp in Arabic, later debunked as AI-generated due to inconsistencies like merging cars and misaligned shadows.
Iran’s Threats Since Operation Rising Lion Began
Since Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion,” targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Arak, missile production sites, and senior military leaders, Iran has issued multiple threats of retaliation:
- Immediate Retaliation Vows (June 13, 2025): Following Israel’s initial strikes, which killed IRGC commander Hossein Salami, military chief Mohammad Bagheri, and others, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Israel would face a “harsh response” for its “great crime.”
- Iranian state media described missile barrages on Tel Aviv as the start of a “crushing response,” with over 100 drones launched toward Israel.
- Threats Against U.S. Interests: Iranian Defense Minister General Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that Iran could attack U.S. bases if nuclear talks with the Trump administration fail or hostilities escalate. Iran’s armed forces stated their response to Israeli attacks would have “no limits,” and Khamenei rejected Trump’s calls for surrender, threatening U.S. military interests in the region.
- Escalatory Rhetoric (June 16-20, 2025): President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed “more painful and crushing responses” after Israeli strikes on Tehran’s Shahran fuel depot and oil refineries, which caused massive explosions in residential areas. Iran’s foreign ministry accused the U.S., Israel’s main ally, of enabling “Israel’s adventurism” and warned of consequences.
Beyond the AI video of Israeli buildings, Iranian state media released a bizarre video on June 20, 2025, using Lego figures to depict an attack on Israel, posted by @Avatar218284922 on X. The clip, mocked online, display's Iran’s use of creative propaganda to amplify threats.
