Iranian State TV Says Nuclear Explosion Footage Was an Editing Error
Iran’s state-run broadcaster, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), aired footage early Friday that appeared to depict a simulated nuclear explosion over a city during a news segment, briefly alarming viewers and fueling speculation online.
The 3D graphic showed a bright flash over an unidentified city, followed by a rising mushroom cloud and thick plumes of smoke. The broadcast quickly sparked concern inside Iran and prompted social media users to question whether the television network had been hacked.
IRIB later denied those claims, stating that the footage was broadcast due to an internal editing mistake rather than a cyberattack.
“The airing of footage showing a nuclear explosion was the result of an editing error,” the broadcaster said in a statement. An IRIB news anchor also confirmed on air that the network had not been hacked and described the incident as a production error.
The brief appearance of the graphic nevertheless generated widespread discussion online before the broadcaster issued its clarification.
