Fact Check: Does the image show flooding in Iran’s desert after alleged attacks on US radar stations?
TEHRAN, IRAN: Amid geopolitical tensions involving Iran, images began circulating on social media claiming to show flooding in the Iranian desert after the country allegedly destroyed US defense radar stations in the Gulf region.
The posts linked the damage to sudden weather changes in Iran, sparking speculation. Let us analyze the rumors and fact-check the claim.
Claim: Flooding in Iran after it destroyed US radar stations
The claim is being shared alongside images of flooding in the Iranian desert, allegedly after Iran destroyed 12 US defense radar stations in Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Qatar.
The images show overflowing dams and flooded land, with social media users linking the scenes to sudden weather changes supposedly caused by the attacks on US radar systems.
The images are circulating across social media platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, garnering millions of views, with many users believing the claim is authentic.
Fact Check: Iran flood claim lacks evidence
However, a Google search of the claim reveals that water levels did rise, but not to the point of flooding the desert. The increase was due to the arrival of spring and is unrelated to the alleged destruction of US radar systems in the Gulf region.
The image showing water rushing through a dam canal comes from a report by the Iranian news agency Tasnim News Agency, which was later reposted by the Iranian Embassy in Bulgaria on X in April.
According to the embassy, the overflow was linked to heavy rain in the region and is not connected to the destruction of dozens of US radar systems during the war.
The viral collages contain multiple photos published by Iranian outlets Fars News Agency and ISNA Photo in April, showing the Qezel Ouzan River and surrounding areas in northern Iran experiencing increased water flow after heavy winter and spring rains.
The reports said the rainfall revived the river and helped irrigate nearby farms and rice fields. None of the outlets linked the flooding or rising water levels to alleged Iranian strikes on US radar systems.
Iran reviews US-backed Gulf tensions proposal
The images spread as Iran reportedly began officially reviewing a US-backed proposal aimed at ending months of military tensions in the Gulf. On Thursday, May 7, Iranian officials indicated that a final response could soon be sent through regional mediators.
The move comes as tensions remain high, with Donald Trump repeatedly warning that military action could resume if the talks fail, increasing pressure on Iran’s leadership.
