In a world where it is already hard to tell what is real, international politics has become even more confusing.
On March 15, 2026, President Donald Trump issued a serious warning. He claimed that Iran is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a disinformation weapon. According to the President, Iran is creating fake digital images and videos to make their military look much stronger than it actually is.
Read Also: How to Identify AI Fakes on X About Iran-US War
President Trump pointed to three specific examples where he believes Iran used AI to trick the public:
- The Aircraft Carrier: Images appeared online showing a U.S. aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, on fire. Trump stated these were fake and created by AI, noting that the ship is perfectly safe.
- The Fake Boats: The President claimed Iran is showing off high-tech military boats that do not actually exist. He says these are just digital animations.
- The Massive Crowd: Photos showed a huge rally in Iran with hundreds of thousands of people. Trump called this a ghost town, claiming the crowd was added into the photo using AI software.
The Facts: Trusted news sources like Al-Monitor and Iran International have looked into these claims. While some Iranian military activity is real, many experts agree there is no evidence that a U.S. carrier was hit or that the rally was as large as claimed.
Read Also: Why we trust AI more than Human intuition in 2026
AI for Disinformation
You might wonder why a country would bother making fake videos. It comes down to a simple strategy: if you cannot win a physical fight, you try to win the information war.
- Looking Powerful: AI allows a country to look like a global superpower on a small budget.
- Creating Confusion: When there are too many fake videos, people stop believing anything at all. This makes it harder for the U.S. and its allies to prove the truth.
- Boosting Morale: These fake images are often meant for the people living in Iran to make them feel proud and safe, even if the reality is different.
The Role of the Media
The President also criticized some news outlets. He accused them of sharing these Iranian images without checking if they were real.
Because of this, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has warned TV stations to be more careful. In 2026, a news reporter’s biggest job isn’t just telling the story—it is proving that the video they are showing hasn’t been cooked up by a computer.
Is it Really AI
Technology experts from companies like Microsoft have confirmed that Iran has improved its digital tactics. They use Storm-2035 networks, which are groups of fake websites that use AI to write articles and social media posts meant to divide Americans.
However, we should be careful. Sometimes a photo is just a bad edit or an old-fashioned lie, not fancy AI. Calling everything AI can also be a way to avoid the truth.
We are entering a time where seeing is no longer believing. As the digital fight between the U.S. and Iran continues, the best way to stay informed is to check multiple trusted sources before believing a viral video.
How to Spot AI-Generated News Photos (Simple Checklist)
Use this table as a fast reference guide when you see a suspicious image on your social media feed.
| Checkpoint | What to Look For | Why it Matters |
| Text & Signs | Look at street signs, posters, or clothing logos. | AI often garbles letters or creates “gibberish” text that looks like a fake language. |
| Light & Shadows | Check if shadows all point in the same direction. | AI frequently creates “impossible” lighting where shadows don’t match the sun’s position. |
| The “Crowd” Test | Zoom in on people in the far background. | AI often merges bodies together or gives background people missing limbs or blurry faces. |
| Reflections | Look at water, windows, or eyeglasses. | AI struggles to mirror images correctly; reflections often won’t match the person or object. |
| Source Check | Search for the image on Google Lens or TinEye. | If a “huge event” only has one photo and isn’t on major news sites, it’s likely a digital fake. |
| Physical Logic | Check how objects touch (e.g., a hand holding a railing). | AI often makes fingers “melt” into objects or creates hands with six fingers. |
AI systems strategist with 8+ years building and evaluating intelligent agents. Based in San Francisco, I’ve tested hundreds of tools from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind to emerging startups. At Moltverse, I break down complex AI workflows into practical guides so professionals and creators can adopt them faster. Passionate about ethical automation and human-AI collaboration.