In These Nights: (Night Ninety-Two)

Dedicated to the souls of all those lost in these bitter days

On a night when Tehran’s sky still bore the wounds of its recent scars, a video from Tajrish’s Qods Square surfaced, shaking the heart of every viewer. The harrowing images said to depict an Israeli attack on this corner of our city, spread rapidly across social media, sparking a wave of debates and reactions.

This video, now widely regarded as authentic, became the spark for tonight’s reflection—not on its technical details, but on something more profound: how do we find truth in an era drowning in misleading information?

The world we live in today is one where fake news, amplified by artificial intelligence, is easier to create and spread than ever before. In times of tension and crisis, when conflicting sides prioritize winning the “war of narratives” over uncovering the truth, ordinary citizens—those seeking to understand reality—are the most vulnerable.

This vulnerability stems not only from fabricated stories but also from our own biases. As the old saying goes, you can guide someone who lacks knowledge to understanding, but you cannot make someone see who refuses to look, even if you show them the sun itself. Tonight, I speak not to those who have already made up their minds; I speak to those who yearn to seek the truth, however bitter it may be. When a video like this emerges, the first question is: Is it real? Has it been manipulated?

These questions are vital, especially when the images stir deep emotions. For those of us who call this city, these streets, this square our home, these images are not just news—they are wounds etched into our souls. But precisely because of this, we must examine them with greater care. Questioning grand claims without evidence is entirely right. But denying a reality confirmed by all available data is just as wrong. Fact-checking is not about validating only what we want to believe. If it were, we’d be doing what many media outlets do today: cherry-picking the parts of the truth that fit their narrative and ignoring the rest. In a world where three sides of a conflict simultaneously claim victory, all three are likely distorting the truth. As human beings striving to make decisions with reason and logic, we can no longer say, “What does this have to do with me?” These events, whether we like it or not, are woven into the fabric of our lives. Therefore, we must learn to read and interpret data accurately to avoid the pitfalls of preconceptions and fleeting emotions. How do we do this?

First, we need to identify the institutions and individuals specializing in fact-checking. Just as technology has made deception easier, it has also advanced the tools to detect it. Experts use AI detection, video structure analysis, and even physical simulations to determine the authenticity of images or footage. For instance, with the Qods Square video, some asked why there were gaps between frames or why a car’s shadow appeared ghost-like. These are valid questions, and their answers lie in technical expertise, from frame-rate differences to the effects of recording from a monitor. These are details only specialists can fully unravel. Yet, even with these tools, no one can swear they know the absolute truth unless they were there themselves—and even then, human memory can betray us.

You may have heard of the famous gorilla experiment, which shows how our minds can miss the obvious. So, we must rely on the data we have and seek help from credible sources. At the same time, we must be wary of fabricated witnesses—like anonymous social media accounts claiming, “I was there!”—that can lead us astray.

A key point to remember is that verifying a single video or piece of data does not confirm an entire story. This ten-second clip from Qods Square is just one data point, a single piece of a larger puzzle. Questions about why it was released now, why it’s incomplete, or why it was recorded off a monitor are essential, but their answers do not affect the video’s authenticity. We must separate these two: verifying a specific piece of data and analyzing the motives or implications of its release.

Mixing them risks falling into the trap of overgeneralization. Our standard for fact-checking must be consistent across all data. We cannot blindly accept data that aligns with our biases and reject what doesn’t. This is the very pitfall that unprofessional media fall into. An outlet that always tells you exactly what you want to hear is likely hiding parts of the truth. A true media outlet, regardless of the outcome, is committed only to the truth. Its duty is not to protect national security or support one side of a conflict.

It must provide the audience with the most reliable data available at that moment. In these turbulent times, learning how to follow the media is more crucial than ever. If an outlet consistently reports only what you want to hear, it’s probably lying in some way. Reality does not bend to our wishes or preconceptions. We all hoped that in this conflict, no ordinary citizens—whether in Iran or Israel—would be harmed. But the reality is sometimes harsher than our hopes. If we substitute wishes for reality, our decisions and analyses will falter. This chaotic era is also a chance to learn. It’s an opportunity to discover new fact-checking tools, to ask the right questions, and to fearlessly pursue the truth, no matter how bitter. Be careful not to let false information lead you to wrong decisions. Stay vigilant, and in these troubled nights, seek the light of truth.

Recorded: July 6, 2025