Fact Check: Viral Video Of US Flag Burning In Iranian Parliament Resurfaces Amid Recent Tensions
Vishvas News found that this viral video has no connection to the current tensions between Iran and the United States. While authentic, it captures a May 2018 protest against the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal. It has no connection to the current 2026 tensions in Iran.
- By: Umam Noor
- Published: Jan 22, 2026 at 02:26 PM
New Delhi (Vishvas News). Iran is currently grappling with widespread civil unrest fueled by inflation, unemployment, and strict domestic policies. Against this backdrop, military threats between Iran and the United States have caused regional tensions to peak. Exploiting this situation, social media users are circulating a video of Iranian lawmakers burning the American flag inside Parliament, claiming it as a reaction to current events.
Vishvas News investigated and found that the viral video dates back to 2018 and has no connection to the current tensions between Iran and the United States. This old video is now being shared with a misleading claim.
What’s in the viral post?
Facebook user ‘Pappu Bhai Sahan‘ shared the viral post on January 7, 2026, writing, “The American flag was burned in the Iranian Parliament.”
See the archived version of the post here.
Investigation
To verify the authenticity of the clip, Vishvas News performed a reverse image search using relevant keyframes from the video. The search led to a video uploaded on NBC News’ official Facebook page on May 9, 2018. The original report specified that the act was a protest by Iranian lawmakers regarding international nuclear agreements.
According to a CNN report from the same date, hardline Iranian MPs set fire to a paper US flag and a copy of the nuclear deal (JCPOA) after President Donald Trump announced the US withdrawal from the accord.
We contacted Iranian journalist Fatima Karim Khan for confirmation, who confirmed that the incident was several years old.
Why are there protests in Iran?
The recent protests in Iran are fueled by public anger against inflation, unemployment, and the government’s strict policies. According to a January 19, 2026, report, an official cited the deaths of over 5000 people during the anti-government protests in Iran as a result of the current government’s harsh crackdown on the protests.
Facebook user Pappu Bhai Sahasan, who shared the fake post, has over 14,000 followers.
Conclusion: Vishvas News found that this viral video has no connection to the current tensions between Iran and the United States. While authentic, it captures a May 2018 protest against the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal. It has no connection to the current 2026 tensions in Iran.
- Claim Review : Recent Video Of US Flag Burning In Iranian Parliament
- Claimed By : Facebook user 'Pappu Bhai Sahan'
- Fact Check : False
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