Fact Check: Iran unrest – Protestors clash with police, set cars on fire? No, video is from Greece
A video claiming to show violent protests in Iran is circulating on social media.
By - M Ramesh Naik
Claim:The video shows people throwing Molotov cocktails at cars and clashing with the police amid the protests taking place in Iran.
Fact:The claim is false. The video is from Greece and shows clashes following a rap concert in Thessaloniki.
Hyderabad: Amid reports of widespread unrest in Iran, a video showing people hurling what appear to be Molotov cocktails at vehicles and setting them on fire has gone viral on social media.
The footage is being shared as visuals from the ongoing protests in Iran. The video shows intense street violence, with burning cars and clashes unfolding at night, leading many users to believe it depicts the situation in Iran.
A viral post accompanying the video claimed, “1.5–1.85 million Iranians are in the streets fighting tonight. At this stage the revolution has spread to 512 locations, 180 cities, 31 provinces (all provinces). I urge everyone, especially those with influence, to not call this ‘protests’. Does this look like protests to you? This is a revolution.” (Translated from Hindi) (Archive)
But is this video actually from Iran?
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false. The video does not show protests in Iran. It is from Greece.
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video led us to an Instagram post shared on December 31, 2025. In the comments section of that post, users identified the location as Greece.
Further searches using Greek keywords led to another Instagram video uploaded on January 1, 2025. In the comments, a user clarified that the footage was recorded after a concert by Greek rapper Lex in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Additional verification came from a video shared on November 2, 2025, by TA NEA, a Greek media outlet, on its official Facebook page.
According to the outlet, the incident occurred after a concert by rapper Lakes at the Kaftanzoglio National Stadium in Thessaloniki. Following the event, a group of people engaged in violence in the city centre, throwing Molotov cocktails and tear gas. Greek police reportedly arrested 18 individuals in connection with the incident.
NewsMeter also found a report by ERT News, Greece’s public broadcaster, which stated that the clashes took place on November 1, 2025, after a concert by rapper Lex at the Kaftanzoglio Stadium.
According to the report, around 50 people began causing disturbances after the concert ended, throwing petrol-filled bottles with wicks—commonly known as Molotov cocktails. Police responded by firing tear gas, and 18 arrests were made.
The viral video claiming to show protests in Iran is misleading. The footage is from Thessaloniki, Greece, and shows clashes that occurred after a rap concert in November 2025.
The video has been falsely shared as visuals from Iran.
