FACT CHECK: Did MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal Threaten Iran at a Press Briefing?

Claim:
A viral video shows Randhir Jaiswal allegedly stating that India stands with Israel and warning Iran of harsh consequences if commercial ships travelling to India are attacked.

Verdict: False. The video circulating online is a deepfake created using synthetic audio.

What Is Being Claimed?

A video circulating widely on social media appears to show MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal making a strong statement during a press briefing. In the clip, he can be heard saying that India “completely and unequivocally stands with Israel” and warning Iran that it would face consequences “harsher than Pakistan” if commercial vessels bound for India were attacked.

The video has been shared online with captions suggesting that India issued its first direct warning to Iran amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Given the geopolitical sensitivity of such remarks, the clip quickly gained traction online.

FactCheck India Investigation

A review of official records and available video footage shows that the claim is false.

1. No Such Statement Reported

If an official spokesperson from the Ministry of External Affairs had publicly threatened Iran or announced support for Israel in such terms, the statement would have been widely reported by national and international media outlets.

However, no credible news report documented any such remarks by Randhir Jaiswal.

2. Signs of AI Manipulation

A comparison between the viral clip and Jaiswal’s publicly available speeches revealed noticeable differences:

• The tone and pacing in the viral audio did not match his usual speaking style.
• The pauses and speech cadence appeared artificially generated.

These inconsistencies raised suspicion that the audio had been manipulated.

3. Deepfake Detection Analysis

The audio from the viral clip was extracted and analysed using the Deepfake-O-Meter, a tool developed by researchers at the University at Buffalo. Multiple detection systems flagged the audio as AI-generated, with confidence scores ranging from 98.8% to 100%. This strongly indicates that the voice heard in the clip was synthetically produced.

What Randhir Jaiswal Actually Said

The actual press briefing, held amid the evolving situation in the Middle East, focused primarily on the safety of Indian nationals abroad.

During the briefing, Randhir Jaiswal stated that:

• The government remains committed to the welfare of Indians living in the Gulf region.
• Two Indian nationals had been killed and one was missing after attacks on merchant vessels.
• The Ministry of External Affairs had established a dedicated control room to assist citizens.
• Indian embassies were helping nationals relocate or leave the region through land routes to Armenia and Azerbaijan.

He also noted that around 9,000 Indian nationals were present in Iran, including students, and that the Indian Embassy in Tehran was assisting those seeking to return home. At no point did he state that India stood with Israel in the conflict, nor did he issue any threat to Iran.

Conclusion By Factcheck India

✔ The viral video is not authentic.
✔ The audio in the clip is AI-generated.
✔ Randhir Jaiswal never issued the alleged warning to Iran during the press briefing.

The video circulating online is a deepfake created using synthetic audio. In an era where AI tools can convincingly mimic voices and manipulate videos, misinformation can spread quickly. Verifying such claims through official records and credible sources remains essential before accepting viral content as fact. The video is digitally manipulated. Randhir Jaiswal made no such statement at the briefing. The viral clip uses AI-generated audio, indicating it is a deepfake.