Pakistani propaganda accounts are circulating a digitally manipulated video, falsely showing Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, stating that: ‘We have been assured by senior government officials that the Iranian terrorist attacks on Indian commercial ships shall not be left unanswered. From now onwards, all countries receiving Iranian oil supply & as well as those countries that provide terrorist Iranian regime with weapons and arms, remain our target.’
Fact Check:
Upon investigation, the DFRAC team found that the viral video has been digitally manipulated. A keyframe search using reverse image tools led us to the original video on the official YouTube channel of PIB. Upon reviewing the original video, it is evident that the clip is from an official briefing focused on LPG and crude oil supply. The Government urges citizens to avoid panic booking, assures stable LPG and fuel supply amid global energy disruptions,” emphasizes supply stability and advises citizens against panic booking. There is no mention of any threats or statements related to the viral claim.
Further investigation led us to credible media sources such as ANI and Deccan Herald, both of which published reports featuring visuals similar to those in the viral video on March 12.
According to ANI’s report titled “Govt urges citizens to avoid panic booking, assures stable LPG and fuel supply amid global energy disruptions,” the official’s remarks were focused on ensuring fuel availability, maintaining supply stability, and discouraging panic buying. There was no mention of any military action or threats against other countries.
Similarly, Deccan Herald’s coverage, titled “70% crude imports via non-Hormuz routes: India says no need for panic,” reported on the same briefing. The visuals used in the viral clip match this official interaction, confirming that the footage has been taken out of context and repurposed with false and misleading claims.
We also analyzed the video using the AI detection tool Hive Moderation. The analysis indicated signs of synthetic audio manipulation, suggesting that the voiceover was artificially generated and overlaid onto the original footage. To further verify, our team contacted AI expert Mayank Sharma. He confirmed that the audio in the viral video appears to be AI-generated.
Conclusion:
The viral video is fake and AI-altered. The original footage has been taken from a legitimate government briefing and manipulated to insert fabricated statements.
