Fake News and the Illusion of an Imminent War Against Iran
WANA (Nov 05) – In recent weeks, as the Middle East endures one of its most volatile periods in years, a new wave of headlines began circulating across Persian-language media and social networks: a supposed U.S. warning of an “imminent operation”—allegedly targeting Iran. The headlines were alarming, and within hours, social media was flooded with speculation. Yet, closer scrutiny revealed that what was being shared was not a war report, but rather a blend of misinterpretations, false attributions, and fabricated content.
The story’s origin traced back to a recent television interview with Thabet al-Abbasi, Iraq’s Minister of Defense, on the Al-Sharqiya network. In the interview, al-Abbasi said that about ten days earlier, U.S. officials had contacted him through formal channels to warn that the United States was preparing for “an operation in the region.” He clarified, however, that this warning concerned Iraqi armed groups and that Washington had requested they refrain from interfering. Importantly, he made no direct reference to Iran, focusing instead on developments near Syria.
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Despite that, the narrative quickly shifted as the interview was republished. Several online outlets reinterpreted the vague phrase “operation in the region” as “a U.S. warning about an attack on Iran.” Within hours, headlines such as “Iraqi Defense Minister reveals Washington’s warning of an attack on Iran” spread across social media, triggering a chain reaction of unverified reposts. What began as a general comment about Syria had now transformed into a supposed direct threat against Iran.
The second link in this chain of distortion involved Ali Larijani’s recent remarks. Certain Persian-language networks quoted him as claiming that “a U.S. official had issued a warning to Iran.” But the full transcript of his speech shows he was actually referring to tensions in Lebanon, not Iran. Selective editing and omission of key phrases created a new meaning that simply didn’t exist in his original statement.
The third example was entirely fabricated—yet it circulated even faster. A screenshot of a fake tweet attributed to Christiane Amanpour, the CNN journalist, claimed: “Sources close to the federal government say Trump has given Iran a two-week ultimatum.” A review of Amanpour’s verified social media archives confirmed that no such tweet ever existed. Nonetheless, the image went viral, shared across hundreds of channels and accounts, many of which accepted it as fact without source verification.
Beyond these three cases, the more significant issue lies in how such narratives take shape. Ambiguous phrases like “the region,” “informed sources,” or “military movements” provide fertile ground for reinterpretation and speculation. In the unstable political climate of the Middle East, even a vague official remark from an Iraqi or American figure can, through repetition and distortion, be recast with an entirely new meaning and target.
Media outlets, meanwhile, play a double-edged role. Competing for speed and attention, they often publish before verifying. Social media algorithms amplify this problem, rewarding shocking or fear-inducing headlines—regardless of their accuracy. The combination ensures that false or distorted stories spread far more rapidly than verified information.
Centrifuge and missile models are displayed during the 46th anniversary of the U.S. expulsion from Iran, in Tehran, Iran, November 4, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
Why, then, do such stories grip audiences so strongly? The answer lies in collective psychology. The Middle Eastern public—conditioned by decades of real wars and crises—is acutely sensitive to any signal of potential conflict. When an alarming headline appears, readers are more inclined to believe first and verify later. Media producers understand this instinct and exploit it to drive engagement.
The consequences go beyond mere misinformation. Repeated exposure to narratives of “imminent threat” heightens collective anxiety, clouds rational analysis, and can even influence political decisions.
The recent wave of reports about a “U.S. warning of an imminent attack on Iran” illustrates how a narrative can be built from almost nothing: a comment about Syria, a misquoted Iranian official, and a completely fabricated tweet combined to create the illusion of a looming war. This case reveals a broader truth—not just about Iran, but about modern media itself: that in today’s information ecosystem, news no longer merely reflects reality; it increasingly constructs it.
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