TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – A WhatsApp post claims that an Iranian nuclear device was detonated in Israel on March 15, 2026. The clip depicts a large explosion within a cityscape, followed by plumes of black smoke.
Similar footage has been featured in threads and on Instagram in the aftermath of Iran’s Khyber missile, which deployed a thermobaric warhead. These posts emerged amid an escalating armed conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Does this video really show that Iran is using nuclear or thermobaric weapons in an attack against Israel?
fact check
tempo We verified the footage through manual analysis, AI detection software, and cross-referencing with trusted sources. The investigation confirmed that Iran has launched retaliatory attacks against Israel, but that no nuclear weapons were used in the conflict that erupted on February 28. A product of artificial intelligence technology.
AI-generated video
tempo We identified two visual anomalies within the clip. First, the structural geometry of the window lattice of the building on the right changes significantly between the first and fourth seconds. Second, despite the massive explosion that destroyed the surrounding city, the flow of road traffic remains eerily undisturbed and smooth. This lack of physical synchronization is a characteristic flaw in generative AI.
Technical analysis using the AI detection tool Image Whisperer flagged the video screenshots as AI content. The software identified synthetic patterns within renderings of the explosion’s dust cloud.
Further evaluation by Zhuque AI Detection Assistant resulted in a high probability score of 76.31% for AI generation. The Bitmind forensic tool, on the other hand, returned an even more positive score of 96%.
This same video was previously circulated in Syria with false claims about the Haifa port explosion. Fact-checking agency Verify also acknowledged that the content was completely artificial.
There is no evidence of Iranian nuclear use
According to scientific americanExperts say there is no evidence that Iran can develop a functional nuclear weapon within two to four weeks. This specific accusation was recently raised by US President Donald Trump on March 10, 2026 through his Truth Social account.
Since the US withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018, Iran has enriched uranium to 60%. According to the report, Iran has not yet reached the 90 percent enrichment threshold needed for an atomic bomb.
According to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) data from June 2025, Iran had 441 kg of 60% enriched uranium. The transition to 90% remains a major hurdle due to technical complexity and international oversight.
According to Al JazeeraIran’s retaliatory strikes against Israeli and U.S. assets in the Gulf have used only ballistic and cruise missiles. Iran’s most advanced ballistic missiles have a range of 2,000 to 2,500 kilometers.
This range allows Iran to attack Israel and U.S. military bases in the Middle East, but it refutes President Trump’s claim that it cannot reach the U.S. mainland. In 2023, the Iranian military tested an indigenous Fajr-5 missile equipped with a thermobaric warhead. This weapon uses oxygen in the atmosphere to create a high-temperature explosion, which is different from nuclear fission.
conclusion
tempoinvestigation found that claims about a video showing an Iranian nuclear bomb in Israel were error. The content is a fabricated document created using artificial intelligence technology.
tempo fact check team
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