Fact Check: Iran's 'most dangerous missile' ready to strike Israel? No, machine in video is slurry hopper

Hyderabad: In the context of Israel and Iran engaging in missile and drone strikes against each other since June 13, a video of a large missile-like structure being transported on a trailer vehicle is circulating on social media. Those sharing the video claim that it shows Iran’s most dangerous missile being prepared to strike Israel.

An X user sharing the video wrote, “This is the weapon that Israel fears the most.” (Archive)

Another X user wrote, “Iran has brought out its most dangerous missile from a tunnel, which, after being fired, can destroy an area of 100 to 200 km. Iran will likely launch this missile at Tel Aviv today or tomorrow. But keep in mind, Israel has 90 nuclear bombs — and these nuclear bombs have not been made just for display.” (Translated from Hindi) (Archive)

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim is false. The video has been available on the Internet since at least 2018 and features a hopper of a natural gas station being transported.

A reverse image search of a keyframe from the video led us to the same footage published by a YouTube channel in January 2021. The caption, written in Uzbek, hinted that the object was being transported to the Qandim gas plant.

We found that the Kandym Gas Processing Complex (KGPC), also known as the Qandim gas plant, is a major natural gas processing facility situated in Uzbekistan’s Bukhara Region.

We also found the video published by another YouTube channel in December 2018. According to the channel, the footage shows the transportation of a slurry hopper for a natural gas station from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan.

How is a slurry tank used in a gas station plant?

A slurry hopper/tank is a specialised vessel used in gas processing plants to safely store and homogenise mixtures of liquids and solids, such as sludge, chemical slurries, enabling efficient pumping or discharge for downstream treatment. Equipped with agitators, valves and level detectors, these tanks ensure consistent slurry handling, prevent settling and maintain smooth operation of processing units.

Clues from the video

Upon examining both the viral and YouTube videos, we noticed the text ‘Çaba Misnak’ on the vehicle pulling the trailer.

We ran a keyword search and found that Çaba & Misnak on LinkedIn. It is a Turkish heavy‑lift and project logistics company. It was founded in 1996 and is based in Kocaeli, Turkey. The firm specialises in transporting oversized and heavy cargo, such as industrial equipment, to regions across Turkey, Iraq, Central Asia and beyond. It operates a large fleet of hydraulic axle lines, cranes, jacking/sliding systems and SPMTs (self‑propelled modular trailers), supported by in‑house engineering services.

We reviewed the company’s website and YouTube channel and found multiple images and videos showcasing the transportation of oversized and heavy cargo by both road and water.

NewsMeter has reached out to Çaba & Misnak for more information, including details about the equipment being transported, the location, and the year the viral video was recorded. The story will be updated once we receive a response from the company.

What do media reports say about the viral video?

Çaba & Misnak clarified to AFP in 2022 that the equipment seen in the video is from an oil refinery in Uzbekistan. Identified as a Catalyst Slurry Hopper, it weighed 510 tons and is not military equipment, nor is it part of any military project.

In 2023, the company clarified to Teyit, an independent Turkey-based fact-checking organisation, that the vehicle was transporting a slurry hopper/boiler for a natural gas power plant in Uzbekistan, travelling from Kazakhstan. The company also explicitly stated that the transport vehicle and its cargo were unrelated to Israel or the conflict at that time.

Therefore, we conclude that the viral video is old and has been on the Internet since at least 2018. The claim that it shows Iran’s most dangerous missile is false.