Fact Check: Old photos, videos used to FALSELY claim Iranians are fleeing to other countries
As the Iran-Israeli conflict continues to escalate, US President Donald Trump urged residents of Tehran to evacuate the city immediately. Meanwhile, several videos and photos allegedly showing Iranians fleeing to bordering countries have surfaced online. In this story, we have debunked three such claims.Iranian refugees fleeing to Afghanistan?A video showing a large group of people running through rugged terrain is going viral as Iranian refugees fleeing to Afghanistan amid the ongoing conflict with Israel.advertisement
We found that several Nepal-based Instagram accounts had shared the same video on June 1. This means it predates the present Iran-Israel conflict, which began with Israel's attack on June 13.As per one such post, the video shows a massive influx of people in Nepal's Rupa-Patan, Dolpa, searching for Yarsagumba, also known as "Himalayan Viagra," a rare medicinal fungus found in Nepal's Himalayan region at elevations of 3,000 to 5,000 metres.We also found several videos similar to the viral video on YouTube in which the same terrain area can be seen. View this post on Instagram A post shared by madeinnepal (@madeinnepal143)Iranians crossing border to enter Pakistan?Another video allegedly showed Iranians rushing through a large gate to enter Pakistan. Sharing this video, an X user wrote, 'Refugees from Iran start to flood into Pakistan through Taftan border crossing.'advertisementResponding to the viral post, several people pointed out that the video was old and showed Pakistani Shia pilgrims visiting Iran. Reverse-searching keyframes from the viral video led to the same clip from August 9, 2024. This shows that the viral clip predates the ongoing conflict.As per the post, the video showed the Pakistan-Iran border welcoming visitors of Al-Hussain. We also found the viral clip on YouTube shared on August 10, 2024. The Taftan border is important during Islamic events such as Muharram and Arbaeen, and Pakistani pilgrims enter Iran through it to participate in the Arbaeen religious rituals and to pay homage to the shrine of Imam Husayn in Iraq's Karbala.Iranians stranded at the Afghan border?A photo of a large group of people stranded was shared as Iranians at the Afghan border.We found the viral picture in a 2021 India Today report. As per the report, the image shows hundreds of Afghans gathered on the Pakistani side of the Chaman border, seeking to cross into Afghanistan. However, the Taliban did not permit crossings until Pakistan met certain demands. We found the same image used by other news publications at that time, which means that this photo has nothing to do with the Iran-Israel conflict.advertisementHowever, there are reports of Iranians leaving Tehran after the recent escalations. Residents have reportedly been fleeing to northern provinces such as Mazandaran, Gilan, and Alborz, leading to severe traffic congestion, fuel shortages, and disruptions in daily life.Notably, Pakistan has closed its border with Iran indefinitely amid the Israel-Iran conflict. Afghanistan also closed its border for cargo trucks after the conflict began. As per reports, some Iranians have sought refuge in Turkey. However, Turkish officials have denied reports of a large-scale influx of refugees.Thus, it is evident that these photos and videos do not show Iranians fleeing to neighbouring countries.Tune InMust Watch
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