Iranian state media outlet IRNA has attributed a simulated nuclear explosion graphic aired during a news segment to an "editing error," despite widespread speculation on social media that the broadcast station had been hacked by hostile foreign powers or exiled opposition groups. The footage, which depicted a mushroom cloud over an urban area, sparked debate about whether it was intended as a warning about Iran's nuclear ambitions or a deliberate message from hackers. While IRNA denies any security breach, this incident follows previous instances where Iranian state television has been compromised to broadcast messages from foreign leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump, and hacking operations have targeted news websites and popular applications.

Iranian state media outlet IRNA has attributed a simulated nuclear explosion graphic aired during a news segment to an "editing error," despite widespread speculation on social media that the broadcast station had been hacked by hostile foreign powers or exiled opposition groups. The footage, which depicted a mushroom cloud over an urban area, sparked debate about whether it was intended as a warning about Iran's nuclear ambitions or a deliberate message from hackers. While IRNA denies any security breach, this incident follows previous instances where Iranian state television has been compromised to broadcast messages from foreign leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump, and hacking operations have targeted news websites and popular applications.

Iranian state media outlet IRNA has attributed a simulated nuclear explosion graphic aired during a news segment to an "editing error," despite widespread speculation on social media that the broadcast station had been hacked by hostile foreign powers or exiled opposition groups. The footage, which depicted a mushroom cloud over an urban area, sparked debate about whether it was intended as a warning about Iran's nuclear ambitions or a deliberate message from hackers. While IRNA denies any security breach, this incident follows previous instances where Iranian state television has been compromised to broadcast messages from foreign leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump, and hacking operations have targeted news websites and popular applications.

A day after Iranian state media IRNA aired footage showing a simulation of a nuclear explosion in the heart of an urban area during a news segment, the agency has come up with a clarification, calling it an “editing error”. This comes amid reports that “hostile powers” had hacked into the broadcasting station’s software.

The footage aired last Friday showed a 3D graphic of a mushroom-shaped bright flash appearing over an unidentified city. The mushroom cloud is seen amid plumes  of smoke. The footage sent Iranian social media into a tizzy with many speculating that the channel had been hacked.

The rumours were that the hackers could be associated with Iranian opposition groups in exile outside the country, such as "Adalat Ali". Others speculated that it could be the work of countries that are in direct conflict with Iran. Many said the demonstration of a nuclear explosion in the centre of a city was aimed at illustrating to the Iranian citizens the extreme scenario to which the regime could lead the country to due to its nuclear ambitions.

However, IRIB soon came up with a clarification, according to CNN. It said the airing of footage showing a  nuclear explosion was the result of an editing error. “The outlet had not been hacked,” an IRIB anchor said on air.

Though the regime denies the claims, the regime's television had earlier been hacked to broadcast messages to the citizens of the Islamic Republic from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. In March, the state TV showed Netanyahu’s appeal to Iranians to “free themselves from the shackles of terrorism”.

Coinciding with the hack, the operations included hacking several news websites and the BadeSaba app - a religious calendar with over 5 million downloads - which presented users with messages along the lines of "The time of reckoning has come".

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