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AFP

Tourist attraction clips falsely linked to Iran-Israel war

"I'm not sure whether Iran was damaged by nuclear weapons or not. But this is Donald Trump's generosity by spending billions to form a hole for Iranians to use as recreational areas," reads a Burmese-language Facebook post on June 25, 2025. It includes a video compilation -- viewed more than a million times -- showing people exploring rocky mountainous sites. Image Screenshot of false post taken July 3, 2025, with a red X added by AFP The most intense confrontation between Middle East adversaries Iran and Israel erupted June 13, when Israel launched a bombing campaign in Iran that killed top military commanders and scientists linked to its nuclear programme (archived link). Tehran responded with ballistic missile attacks on Israeli cities. The United States subsequently joined its ally Israel's military campaign against Iran, bombing three key facilities used for Tehran's atomic program. A ceasefire announced on June 24 ended the war. US President Donald Trump has insisted that Iran's key nuclear facilities were "obliterated" in the strikes, angrily bashing assessments to the contrary, including, reportedly, by his own administration (archived link). The video compilation has also been shared in Hindi and Russian-language Facebook posts as well as on TikTok and YouTube but none of the clips have been filmed in Iran. Nicaragua volcano A reverse image search of keyframes on Google found the first clip published on the Instagram page of Leontrekkers, a Nicaragua-based travel firm on May 25, 2025 (archived link). "This is what it feels like to stand on the edge of Telica's crater. An active volcano in the heart of Nicaragua," reads part of its caption. Known for its steep cone and double crater, Telica is one of the most active volcanoes in Nicaragua (archived link). Image Screenshot comparison of the false post (L) and the Instagram video Alexander Reyes, founder of Leontrekkers said he filmed the video on May 24 (archived link). "I would like to clarify that it has no connection to any military action or activity involving Iran or the United States," he told AFP. He also shared a longer high-resolution video that matches Google Maps imagery of the volcano (archived link). Image Screenshot comparison of the high-resolution video (L) and Google Maps imagery of Telica similar features highlighted by AFP Saudi cave A further reverse search traced another clip in the compilation to an AFP reached out to the user who runs the account, who said it shows the Heet Cave, a natural geological attraction 30 kilometres (18 miles) from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (archived link). Image Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared clip (L) and the original Instagram post Google Maps imagery from the cave confirms the location of the video (archived link). Image Screenshot comparison of Instagram video (L) and Google Maps imagery of Heet Cave with similar elements highlighted by AFP Likely Morocco The final clip has previously been posted on TikTok on June 16, six days before the US strikes on Iran (archived here and here). The shaky footage shows three people running down a slope while speaking to each other in Arabic. According to an AFP journalist, the accent of the speakers suggests they are from Morocco. Image Screenshot comparison of the false post (L) and the TikTok video The same TikTok user also uploaded a separate video showing the group sitting on the edge of the water-filled crevice (archived link). AFP has debunked a wave of misinformation sparked by the Iran-Israel war here.