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Supported

Published fact-check

Fact Check: Did Iranian state media report air defenses firing at targets in Tehran?

Claim checked

“Air defenses in Tehran are firing at “hostile” targets -Iranian state outlet Mehr”

Published

Updated

Verdict

Supported

Iranian state media and international news outlets reported that air defense systems in Tehran were activated to engage "hostile" targets in the early hours of April 23, 2026. Reports indicated activity in both the eastern and western districts of the Iranian capital.

2 reviewed sources behind this verdict.

Reasoning

The claim is supported by reports from the Iranian state-affiliated Mehr News Agency and independent coverage from Euronews. Mehr News Agency explicitly stated that air defense systems were confronting "hostile Israeli projectiles" shortly after midnight. While the body of the Mehr article provided in the evidence contains a conflicting date (June 2025), the website header and independent live-blogging from Euronews confirm that significant military activity, including explosions and anti-aircraft fire, occurred in Tehran on April 23, 2026. Euronews detailed reports of activity in areas such as Chitgar, Quds, and Pardis, as well as the presence of drones in the sky.

Source quality: The evidence includes a direct report from the cited state outlet (Mehr News) and corroboration from a major international news organization (Euronews). Although one source has a technical date discrepancy in its text, the real-time context and secondary confirmation are strong.

Key checks

  • Mehr News Agency Report: The Iranian state-affiliated outlet Mehr News Agency published a report stating that air defense systems in Tehran were activated to confront 'hostile' projectiles, specifically identifying them as Israeli in origin.

  • Independent Confirmation of Military Activity: Euronews confirmed reports of explosions and air defense activity in several districts of Tehran, including Chitgar, Qala Hassan Khan, and Pardis, on April 23, 2026, citing social media and local reports.

Confidence

High