In mid-June 2025, rumors surfaced online suggesting that Iranian state television announced, “Tonight, a great surprise will occur, one that the world will remember for centuries.” This claim gained traction after an X user posted on June 17, stating, “BREAKING: Iranian State TV has said: ‘Tonight, a great surprise will occur, one that the world will remember for centuries.'” The post garnered significant attention, racking up 12.4 million views at the time.
The claim was widely shared across various platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, TikTok, and YouTube. Additionally, media outlets such as Newsweek, The Gateway Pundit, the Arabic site Asharq News, and British tabloids like The Daily Mail and The Mirror reported the alleged announcement as fact.
However, investigations by major wire services, including Agence France-Presse, The Associated Press, and Reuters, found no evidence supporting this claim. If such a significant announcement had been made by Iranian state TV, it would likely have been covered extensively by international news outlets. The few who reported it did not provide any accompanying video or other forms of evidence.
The origins of the rumor appear to trace back to an X post from the account Tehran Updates (@TehranDefence) on the morning of June 17. This account describes itself as providing “Live War updates / This account is not affiliated with any Government entity.” The post in question seems to be the first to mention the phrase, indicating a likelihood that the story regarding Iranian state TV’s announcement is false. However, Snopes has not yet assigned a fact-check rating to this story, as a definitive truth has not been established.
Snopes reached out via email to Iran’s foreign ministry to inquire about the alleged announcement made by state TV and will provide updates as more information becomes available. This speculation has surfaced amid rising tensions in the Middle East, with ongoing missile exchanges between Iran and Israel. On June 18, the AP reported that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dismissed U.S. calls for surrender, threatening that any military involvement from the U.S. would result in “irreparable damage”. Furthermore, reports indicated that an Israeli airstrike had hit an Iranian state TV studio during a live broadcast, with video evidence capturing the impact.
For further context about state TV broadcasts, another fact check discussed a claim regarding Russian state television airing nude photos of U.S. First Lady Melania Trump shortly after the 2024 election.