In the last few weeks, the world has witnessed a surge in international concern over the rising conflict levels between the United States and Iran. One of the key events that has sparked a lot of online discussion was a bold claim made by the previous President of the United States, Donald Trump, who asserted that Iran’s military had been “totally destroyed.” This comment did not go viral alone; the response from Iran also did so, especially on social media sites, resulting in what many people called an “internet-breaking” moment.
Trump’s Claim: “Iran’s Military Destroyed”
During the military operations in Iran, Trump declared that the military capabilities of the Iranian military had been destroyed by the US military. This was reminiscent of the initial claims he made, where he stated that the US military strikes had “obliterated” the Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure.
This was part of the overall narrative presented by the US administration on the success of the conflict. There have been reports indicating that large-scale strikes have been carried out on the Iranian military infrastructure, including missile systems, naval units, and strategic centers such as Kharg Island.
Reality Check: Not Fully Destroyed
In light of recent intelligence and defense reports circulating within the region, it has come to light that the military of Iran has suffered a devastating blow—but has yet to be destroyed. According to U.S. officials:
- One-third of Iran’s missiles have been destroyed
- A portion of their missiles have been damaged or are hidden away in underground facilities
- A large portion of their missiles are still active and capable of launching attacks
In addition to these findings, despite the fact that Iran’s military has suffered a devastating blow, they are still able to carry out missile and drone strikes within the region; therefore, their military has yet to be destroyed to a large extent. This was another reason why the topic was able to explode online.
Iran’s Social Media Counterattack
The conventional battlefield was characterized by weapons like missiles and drones, but on social media, a separate war was being fought—an information war.
The Iranians were aggressive on social media, using platforms like X (Twitter), Instagram, and others to combat Trump’s narrative on the situation. Their actions included:
- Using memes to ridicule America’s claims
- Creating AI-powered videos showing Iran’s victories
- Using coordinated messages to showcase Iran as an undefeated nation
Apparently, this was not a random attack, but rather a calculated move by Iran, moving from defense to offense by focusing on influencing global opinions, particularly in Western nations.
The content was extremely successful, reaching millions of people and contributing to online discussions, jokes, and political arguments.
‘Broke the Internet’: What Does it Mean?
The phrase ‘broke the internet’ does not literally mean anything; it simply means that it went viral on a massive scale. The three factors that contributed to the viral nature of the news are:
- The dramatic claim of Trump
- Contradictory claims of officials
- Aggressive online response of Iran
On social media, people reacted in different ways:
- Supporters of Trump shared his claims of winning the election
- Opponents of Trump pointed out inconsistencies and accused him of exaggeration
- Other people shared memes and analysis of the news
Information War Meets Real War
What is special in this situation is that it draws attention to the following contemporary phenomenon: modern wars are not only waged with guns but also with words.
The Iranian use of digital media illustrates the following opportunities for countries:
- Shaping global opinion
- Influencing public opinion in other countries’ territories
- Disrupting political communications
At the same time, the strong rhetoric of Trump demonstrates the opportunities for political communications to demonstrate strength, even when the situation is not as clear-cut.
