Fact Check: Viral Image of Woman Lighting Cigarette With Photo of Iran’s Supreme Leader Did Not Originate in Iran

Claim

A viral photograph circulating on social media claims to show a woman in Iran lighting a cigarette using a burning image of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during recent anti-government protests.

Verdict

False

The image was not taken in Iran and does not depict protests inside the country. Verified geolocation analysis places the photograph in Richmond Hill, near , Canada.

What Is Being Shared Online

The photograph has been widely circulated on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram, often described as:

• “A defining image of the Iranian uprising”
• “An Iranian woman openly defying the regime”
• “A protest moment from inside Iran”

In multiple posts, the image is presented without a verifiable source, date, photographer credit, or original context.

Fact-Checking Process

The Chenab Times verification team conducted a multi-step verification process consistent with international fact-checking standards:

1. Reverse Image Search

Searches across major engines did not link the image to any credible reporting from Iran or international news agencies covering protests inside the country.

2. Background Analysis

Using image enhancement and AI-assisted object removal tools, the background structures were isolated to identify architectural and environmental markers.

3. Geolocation Verification

The background building, signage, fencing, and surrounding objects were matched using Google Maps and Street View. The location was confirmed as a parking area near the Oak Ridges Public Library in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada.

4. Visual Corroboration

Distinctive elements such as trash bins, fencing layout, road signage, and building design were consistent across both the viral image and Street View imagery from the identified location.

Why the Claim Is Incorrect

• The physical surroundings do not match any known Iranian urban environment
• The confirmed location is outside Iran
• There is no evidence linking the image to protests occurring inside Iranian cities

While the woman in the photo may be of Iranian origin, location—not identity—determines the accuracy of the claim.

Who is the woman in viral image?

The woman in the viral photograph is Morticia Addams, an online activist and commentator known by the handle @melianouss on X, where she has built a sizable following through confrontational, meme-driven political posts. Her content is sharply anti–Islamic Republic and deliberately provocative, often using shock imagery and incendiary language to draw attention to her views. While some users interpret her rhetoric and tone as aligning with right-wing or reactionary online subcultures, there is no verifiable public evidence that she formally identifies with an organized right-wing movement or party. What is clear is that she operates within a highly polarised digital activism space, prioritising virality and symbolic defiance—such as the act depicted with a burning image of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—over conventional protest messaging. Her posts frequently blur the line between political dissent, performance, and online provocation, which is precisely why her imagery is so often detached from context and misused in viral narratives.

What Is True

• Protests against Iran’s leadership have taken place in multiple Iranian cities and are documented by credible international media.
• Iranian diaspora communities, particularly in Canada, have organised demonstrations and symbolic acts protesting human rights violations in Iran.

However, this image should not be used as visual evidence of protests within Iran.

Why This Matters

Misattributed images—especially during periods of political unrest—can distort public understanding and weaken credible reporting. The Chenab Times‘ fact-checking guidelines emphasise:

• Clear distinction between verified facts and assumptions
• Accurate location and context
• Transparent verification methodology

Using emotionally powerful but incorrectly attributed imagery risks spreading misinformation, even when shared in support of legitimate causes.

In the end

The claim that the viral photo shows a woman in Iran lighting a cigarette with a burning image of the Supreme Leader during protests is false. The image was taken in Richmond Hill, Canada, and does not document events inside Iran.

Fact-Check Summary

• Claim: Photo taken during protests in Iran
• Finding: False
• Verified Location: Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
• Source Type: Geolocation and image verification

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Alia Sadiq