Latest news with #Persian-language
DW
21 hours ago
- Politics
- DW
Fact check: Viral Evin prison blast video is likely AI-fake – DW – 06/27/2025
A viral video claiming to show an Israeli strike on Iran's Evin prison is probably AI-generated. Experts reveal key visual inconsistencies. A video went viral this week, allegedly showing the footage of a surveillance camera filming the entrance to the notorious Evin prison in Tehran being destroyed by an explosion. According to Israel, it had fired on the prison; Iran's judiciary confirmed the attack. The prison is known for reports of human rights violations against political prisoners of the Iranian regime. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had shared the black-and-white video (archived here) on his X account, writing: "We warned Iran time and again: stop targeting civilians! They continued, including this morning. Our response: Viva la libertad, carajo!" Numerous international media outlets featured or referenced the six-second video to report on the attack. These included the New York Times, BBC, and the German channel ARD. They have since deleted the footage and added disclaimers to their publications. But the video appears to be fake. Most probably generated with AI with the help of an old image of the prison gate. DW Fact check looked at the puzzle pieces. A photo of the prison entrance, which is identical down to the smallest details, was used in a Persian-language article by Voice of America from May 2023. It shows a larger section of the image and was presumably taken from this post on X, from January 2023. If you compare the video circulating now and the image from 2023 you will see that there are a lot of similarities which are just too exact for pictures of the same location that have been taken at least 2 years apart: Compare the missing tiles on the left side of the entrance, or the bare shrubs in the right lower corner of the marked in both images. The shrubs are also an indication that the photo cannot be recent, but was instead taken in winter, as there are no leaves at all. Other pictures of Evin Prison on the internet, which were actually taken in summer, show the bushes and shrubs covered in dense foliage. One example, presumably from 2021, can be found here. Also, images of the damage actually caused at the prison now, shared by Iranian news agencies, show trees and bushes covered in leaves, and not bare, as in the black and white video sequence. Hany Farid, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who specializes in digital forensics, also pointed out the inconsistencies in the video shared by Saar in a post on LinkedIn on Tuesday. He wrote: "Unfortunately, the video is heavily compressed, making forensic analysis challenging. (…) It seems more likely that an AI-powered image-to-video generator was used with this image as the source The poor video quality seems plausible by faking a surveillance camera recording and complicates reverse image searches, as does the change in color footage to black and white. Farid added: "If this video is, in fact, fake, then it adds to a growing and disturbing trend of fake content circulating online as major world events unfold, making our understanding of what is happening and how to respond shaky, at best." Various fact checks, for example by Libération, VRT and ABC News Australia, have already come to the same conclusion: the video is not authentic. However, many users online and media outlets fell for it because there really was an attack on the prison. According to Iranian media, the attack not only struck the prison's main entrance but also damaged a prosecutor's office and two courts within Evin, cited in media reports. Further confusion was caused because the viral video matches real footage of the entrance gate. Farid told DW in a previous interview, "The problem with the fake content is that it's not just that people are creating fake content. It's that they are muddying the waters and suddenly everything is suspect." With the improvement of AI-generating programs and the sheer amount of content shared online, this "muddying of waters" is making it more and more difficult to distinguish between what is real and fake.
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Iran carries out wave of arrests and executions in wake of Israel conflict
TEHRAN — Iranian authorities have carried out a wave of arrests and multiple executions of people suspected of links to Israeli intelligence agencies, in the wake of the recent war between the two countries. It comes after what officials describe as an unprecedented infiltration of Iranian security services by Israeli agents. Authorities suspect information fed to Israel played a part in a series of high-profile assassinations during the conflict. This included the targeted killings of senior commanders from the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and nuclear scientists, which Iran attributes to operatives of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency working inside the country. Shaken by the scale and precision of these killings, authorities have been targeting anyone suspected of working with foreign intelligence, saying it is for the sake of national security. But many fear this is also a way to silence dissent and tighten control over the population. During the 12-day conflict, Iranian authorities executed three people accused of spying for Israel. On Wednesday, just one day after the ceasefire, three more individuals were executed on similar charges. Officials have since announced the arrest of hundreds of suspects across the country on accusations of espionage. State television has aired alleged confessions from several detainees, purportedly admitting to collaboration with Israeli intelligence. Human rights groups and activists have expressed fears over the latest developments, citing Iran's longstanding practice of extracting forced confessions and conducting unfair trials. There are concerns that more executions may follow. Iran's Ministry of Intelligence claims it is engaged in a "relentless battle" against what it calls Western and Israeli intelligence networks - including the CIA, Mossad, and MI6. According to Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC, since the beginning of Israel's attack on Iran on 13 June, "the Israeli spy network has become highly active inside the country". Fars reported that over the course of 12 days, Iranian intelligence and security forces arrested "more than 700 individuals linked to this network". Iranians have told BBC Persian they received warning text messages from Iran's intelligence ministry informing them their phone numbers had appeared on social media pages related to Israel. They were instructed to leave these pages or face prosecution. The Iranian government has also stepped up pressure on journalists working for Persian-language media outlets abroad, including BBC Persian and the London-based Iran International and Manoto TV. According to Iran International, the IRGC detained the mother, father, and brother of one of its TV presenters in Tehran to pressure her into resigning over the channel's coverage of the Iran-Israel conflict. The presenter received a phone call from her father, prompted by security agents, urging her to quit and warning of further consequences. — BBC
United News of India
a day ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Israeli politicians rebuke Iran Supreme Leader's claims of victory in televised video, mock his weakened appearance
Jerusalem, June 26 (UNI) Israeli lawmaker and former Defence minister, Benny Gantz, staunchly rebuked Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for his televised address, where he went on to boast about an alleged Israeli defeat, reports Iran International. 'Come out of your underground hideout and see what harm and defeat you've brought on your own people,' he wrote in a Farsi-language message on X. 'A liar is the enemy of God,' he added. His post came after Ali Khamenei, in his first address since the ceasefire, released a video message from an undisclosed location, claiming that Israel was 'nearly brought to its knees' under Iranian strikes. 'Despite all its noise and claims, the Zionist regime was nearly crushed under the strikes of the Islamic Republic,' Khamenei said. The 86-year-old also said that US intervention proved fruitless, claiming that the 'US achieved no major gains in the war', dealing minimal superficial damage to Iran's nuclear facilities. The Israeli Foreign Ministry also joined in the fray, mocking the Supreme Leader's visibly weak and frail appearance in the video, suggesting he looked fearful and sun-deprived. The Persian-language account posted: 'Fear or lack of sunlight? Probably both.' UNI ANV SS
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
As Mossad crosses the border, the Iranian regime turns to the noose
Amidst the bombing, all the dying and all the killing, Iran on Monday carved out enough time to hang a man accused of conspiring with Mossad, Israel's elite spy agency. According to Iran's judiciary, Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh was executed for 'intelligence co-operation with the Zionist regime.' He was alleged to have been the 'head of a cyber-team affiliated with Mossad' and to have links with Iran International, a London-based Persian-language TV channel critical of Iran's government. Tehran says the broadcaster is linked to Israel. Shayesteh was arrested two years ago. Opinion articles are based on the author's interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. More details
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Winners and Losers of '12 Day War' After Iran and Israel Agree Ceasefire
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A tentative ceasefire between Israel and Iran had gone into effect in what should go down in history as the "12 Day War," according to President Donald Trump who emerges one of the winners from the conflict while other political figures appear diminished. The agreement remains fragile, with Trump accusing both nations of violating the ceasefire just a few hours after it came into effect. If the ceasefire does hold, then experts tell Newsweek that Israel's leader Benjamin Netanyahu is a big winner from the conflict, while Iran's Ayotallah Ali Khamenei is a big loser. Emmanuel Navan, senior fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, told Newsweek Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will make the most of the political capital from Operation Rising Lion. "I have been very critical of Netanyahu in the past, but what he's pulled off is absolutely fantastic," he said Tuesday. Nazenin Ansari, managing editor of Kayhan London, a Persian-language digital newspaper and Kayhan Life, an English-language digital publication, told Newsweek Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "has been effectively de-fanged." While the region is on tenterhooks over whether any peace can hold, Newsweek takes a look at some of the early winners and losers of the conflict. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on April 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on April 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. Alex Wong//Getty Images Donald Trump - Winner Trump had history in mind in when he said the ceasefire plan his administration proposed to Israel and Iran had ended the "12 Day War." This was a nod to the 1967 conflict also known as the "Six Day War," in which Israel fought a group of Arab countries including Egypt, Jordan and Syria. Trump's announcement followed fears over how Iran might respond to American bunker-busting bombs that the U.S. president said had destroyed the Islamic Republic's nuclear sites on Saturday. Trump had previously said he would wait two weeks and the surprise strikes showed at least initially he was able to order an attack without an immediate escalation and ceasefire bragging rights. Trump went out of his way to signal that Saturday's U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities were a targeted, one-off campaign, not the beginning of a broader effort to topple the regime Rosemary Kelanic, director of the Middle East program at the think tank Defense Priorities told Newsweek. "Iran seems to have taken that off-ramp and responded with an expected and telegraphed counterattack," she said, referring to Monday's strikes by Iran on a U.S. military site in Qatar. Kelanic said Tehran's choice to limit its retaliation and deescalate the crisis was rational given overwhelming U.S. strength and Iranian weakness. "It is also welcome news that President Trump refocused his efforts on peace not only between the U.S. and Iran, but also Israel and Iran," she added. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Weizmann Institute of Science, which was hit by an Iranian missile barrage, in the central city of Rehovot on June 20, 2025. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Weizmann Institute of Science, which was hit by an Iranian missile barrage, in the central city of Rehovot on June 20, Netanyahu - Winner The launch of Operation Rising Lion on June 13 was a gamble for Netanyahu but by persuading Trump to join the fight to destroy targets that Israeli warplanes could not reach, Iran's nuclear ambitions remain thwarted—at least for the short term. The ceasefire that Israel has agreed to could cement the Israeli prime minister's reputation 20 months on from the intelligence failures that preceded the October 7 2023 Hamas attacks which dealt a blow to his security credentials. "The fact that he finally undertook this military operation against Iran and that it was very successful is an amazing achievement for him personally and for the country," said Navan, who praised his coordination with the U.S. "I have been critical of him but I lift my hat to him, I think it's absolutely extraordinary," said Navan, predicting that Netanyahu is not going to waste the rise in his political stock. If early elections were held after the summer, he had an excellent chance of being elected again "because what he has achieved is simply phenomenal," said Navan, "I used to roll my eyes when people compared him to Churchill, but I think that now the comparison actually is deserved." Boeing - Winner The U.S. strikes on nuclear sites on Saturday were the first combat use of the GBU-57 MOP bunker busting bombs developed by Boeing for the U.S. Air Force. The delivery of 14 bombs, 12 of which on the Fordow Nuclear Facility and two on the Natanz Nuclear Facility, caused severe damage to both sites, according to General Dan Caine, Chairman of the U.S Joint Chiefs of Staff Trump went further, saying they were "completely and totally obliterated," although current and former Pentagon officials said that the full extent of the damage to Iran's nuclear capabilities was not immediately clear. Jennifer Kavanagh, senior fellow & director of military analysis, Defense Priorities, told Newsweek "my guess is that Iran's nuclear program was not obliterated, it is hard to say how much damage was done to the actual nuclear enrichment site." However, she added, "at the very least the U.S. and Israeli strikes have set the Iranian nuclear program back further, so there is no imminent threat." The messaging from the U.S. and Israel about the bomb's effectiveness will give a boost to Boeing after a string of bad news—most recently the tragedy of its 787 passenger jet in India crashing minutes after takeoff this month killing all but one onboard. It followed previous crashes in 2018 and 2019 of its 737 airplane while in 2024, it posted a loss of $11.8 billion in 2024, bringing total losses since 2019 to over $35 billion. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the Imam Khomeini Musalla Mosque on October 04, 2024 in Tehran, Iran. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the Imam Khomeini Musalla Mosque on October 04, 2024 in Tehran, Iran. Getty Images Ayatollah Ali Khameini - Loser The future of the regime of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following the conflict is uncertain following the loss of the Islamic Republic's military and scientific leaders from the Israeli and U.S. operations. Derided by Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last monarch for going into hiding "like a frightened rat" during Israel's attacks, Khamenei now commands a smaller power group of commanders, scientists and regional proxies. "The Islamic Republic stands as a shadow of its former self, a diminished entity grappling with the consequences of its overreach," said Ansari. She said the question is whether his "armed thugs and supporters" unleash their fury upon civil society, escalating arrests and executions and how quickly and extensively will defections ripple through the regime, particularly within the ranks of the internal security forces, army, and intelligence services. Hamidreza Azizi, visiting fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, told Newsweek there is a mix of disbelief, frustration, and anger among regime supporters who for years were promised any attack by Israel—or any misstep by Israel or the U.S.—would mark the end of the Israeli state. "Now, they see themselves and their country humiliated by repeated Israeli strikes, by Israeli fighter jets operating with near total freedom in Iranian airspace, and by the lack of a decisive response capable of restoring balance between the two sides," he said. Russia's President Vladimir Putin meets with Iranian Foreign Minister at the Kremlin in Moscow on June 23, 2025. Russia's President Vladimir Putin meets with Iranian Foreign Minister at the Kremlin in Moscow on June 23, Putin - Loser Vladimir Putin received Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in the Kremlin on Monday during which the Russian president condemned "the unprovoked aggression against Iran" by Israel and the U.S. However, Iran has not been impressed with its ally's support, according to Reuters citing Iranian sources, and despite Putin touting a partnership deal in January, Moscow has offered little other than its condemnation over the last two weeks. That 20-year Russian-Iranian Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed had no mutual defense clause, but Iran's backing for Russia's war in Ukraine with Shahed drones appears not to have been reciprocated. Half a year on from the collapse of Putin's ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria, Moscow now faces a regional partner whose regime is diminished. Tulsi Gabbard - Loser U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard faced a rebuff from Trump over her testimony on Capitol Hill in March that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and that Khamenei, had not authorized the nuclear weapons program. When asked about the intelligence assessment, Trump said "she's wrong," later making a similar statement aboard Air Force One. Gabbard responded that her testimony was taken out of context and that U.S. intelligence showed Iran can produce a nuclear weapon "within weeks to months, if they decide to finalize the assembly." She added that Trump "has been clear that can't happen, and I agree." Tucker Carlson - Loser Meanwhile, conservative TV host Tucker Carlson became the most high-profile anti-intervention figure, accusing Senator Ted Cruz of knowing little about Iran " whose government he seeks to "topple," in an interview clip that went viral. Despite being a long-time supporter, Carlson's rhetoric toward Trump has been increasingly critical. But his condemnation of intervention in Iran was at odds with the Trump administration whose role in the conflict has splintered the MAGA coalition, a wing of which opposes American involvement in foreign wars.
