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Viral ‘Tehran Protest’ Video Debunked as 2025 Clashes in Greece

Reverse-image searches plus local reporting linked the clip to Thessaloniki in 2025, highlighting the need for verification.

Overview

  • Full Fact and AFP traced the footage to Thessaloniki using reverse-image checks, higher-quality uploads, and street-level matches.
  • The clip shows people throwing Molotov cocktails near burning cars after a rap concert by Lex; Greek reports noted 18 arrests.
  • Posts on Facebook, X and Instagram shared the video in Thai, Chinese and Hindi while falsely claiming it showed Tehran.
  • One high-engagement post described “MASSIVE CROWDS” in Tehran, but the video predates Iran’s late-December unrest by weeks.
  • Fact-checkers note that internet restrictions and limited foreign press access in Iran reduce verifiable footage, increasing the risk of misattribution.