Factnameh Monthly Brief: July 2026
A review of Factnameh’s July investigations into information manipulation and public narratives
Factnameh’s Substack
Trends and insights on Iran’s information space: integrity, manipulation and foreign interference.
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How Russia’s Sputnik Became a Political Actor Inside Iran
A review of 319 reports reveals how the Russian state-owned outlet has intervened in some of Iran’s most sensitive political debates
Debunking the Fake Missile Launcher Image at Iran’s Ahvaz Hospital
Despite widespread claims that Iran positioned a missile launcher outside Baghaei Hospital, visual and geolocation evidence shows the image is fabricated and does not depict the real site.
The Digital Funeral: How Iran Used Western Influencers to Rewrite History
Bypassing independent journalism to sell an exaggerated image of national unity to international audiences.
Debunking the 40-Million Turnout Claim at Khamenei’s Funeral
Why a 40-plus million turnout defies demographics, spatial limits, and common sense.
The Online Narrative Around Iran’s Former Supreme Leader’s Funeral
Content shared online portrayed the funeral as a larger and more widely supported event than the available evidence indicates.
How Many Attended Iran’s Former Supreme Leader’s Funeral?
Factnameh’s analysis found no evidence to support claims of 10–24 million attendees.
Why the Claim About Falling Unemployment in Iran Does Not Mean More People Are Working
Official data show a lower unemployment rate, but the decline partly reflects people leaving the labor market, not an increase in employment.
Verifying Viral Images and Claims About Seized Assets in Iraq’s Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Factnameh reviewed several viral images claiming Iraq’s recent anti-corruption arrests exposed pro–Islamic Republic networks among Iraqi officials. We found that most of the visuals were either fabric
Where did Pezeshkian get 20 million barrels of oil for the IRGC Aerospace Force?
Factnameh reviewed Iran’s 2026–27 budget to identify the possible source of the 20 million barrels of oil President Masoud Pezeshkian said were allocated to the IRGC Aerospace Force.