Iranian Social Media Campaign Compiles Archive of National Disasters and State-Linked Incidents

A social media campaign, identified by the hashtag #ThisIsNotAWarPhoto, is circulating among Persian-language users. The campaign aims to create a digital archive of disasters and incidents that participants link to Iran's governance over the past four decades. This initiative counters online discussions suggesting that current conflicts are solely responsible for negative impacts on Iran and its population, by highlighting existing internal challenges.

Posts frequently feature photographs and videos of various catastrophes, forming an informal archive that participants state demonstrates the impact of corruption, inadequate oversight, and repression on ordinary Iranians.

Documented Incidents

Industrial Disasters and Safety Failures

• Shahid Rajaei Port Explosion (2020): Images from a blast at Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas, which resulted in 57 fatalities and over 1,000 injuries. International reports later connected the incident to chemicals used in missile fuel production, though Iranian authorities denied military materials were stored at the commercial port.
• Metropol Building Collapse (2022): Photos of the collapsed ten-story Metropol building in Abadan, which caused at least 41 deaths and dozens of injuries. The incident led to protests attributing the collapse to corruption and construction violations.
• Zemestan-Yurt Coal Mine Explosion (2017): Images from an explosion in Golestan province that trapped miners, resulting in 43 worker deaths and over 70 injuries.
• Plasco Building Collapse (2017): Posts recalling a fire and subsequent collapse of the Plasco building in Tehran, which killed approximately 20 firefighters and injured dozens.
• Neyshabur Train Explosion (2004): Photos of a train derailment near Khayyam, where runaway freight wagons carrying hazardous materials exploded, causing at least 295 deaths and over 460 injuries. The blast registered as a small earthquake.

Environmental Degradation and Water Crises

• Lake Urmia Shrinkage: Images depicting the significant reduction of Lake Urmia, attributed to dam construction, water diversion, and extensive agricultural use.
• Hawizeh Marshes Drying: Posts showing the decline of the Hawizeh Marshes, with experts citing oil exploration and water diversion projects as contributing factors.
• Khorramshahr Water Protests (2018): Photos from demonstrations in Khorramshahr protesting a lack of safe drinking water. Security forces responded with arrests and gunfire, according to activists and local reports.
• Shiraz Flash Flood (2019): Images of a flash flood during the Nowruz holiday that killed at least 19 people and injured over 200. Observers later connected the severity of the disaster to blocked historic flood channels and poor drainage infrastructure.

Repression and Political Violence

• 1999 Student Protests: Images referencing the aftermath of a raid on University of Tehran dormitories following protests against the closure of a newspaper. The incident resulted in at least one student death, hundreds injured, and several disappearances.
• Zahedan's Bloody Friday (2022): Widely shared photos from a crackdown in Zahedan where security forces reportedly fired on protesters and bystanders, leading to at least 96 deaths, according to human rights groups.
• Mahsa Amini Protests (2022): Photos of victims from protests that erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody. These demonstrations, suppressed by security forces using various methods, resulted in over 500 deaths and tens of thousands of arrests, as documented by human rights organizations.
• January 2026 Nationwide Protests: References to anti-government protests which users state were met with significant suppression efforts. Figures from social media and activist groups reported over 36,500 fatalities during these demonstrations.
• Rasht Bazaar Killings: Posts about an incident during the January protests where witnesses described security forces firing on protesters in a historic marketplace.

Disasters Linked to Negligence

• Shinabad School Fire (2012): Images from a classroom fire in West Azarbaijan province, caused by a faulty heater, which killed two girls and severely burned over two dozen students.
• Tehran At'har Medical Clinic Explosion (2020): Reference to a gas blast that killed 19 people.
• Sanchi Oil Tanker Disaster (2018): Posts about the Iranian-owned tanker that sank off China's coast, killing all 32 crew members. Documents later suggested authorities may have overlooked evidence of initial crew survival.

Aviation Tragedy and Public Health Crisis

• Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 (2020): Images of the wreckage of the passenger plane shot down by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, killing all 176 people aboard, after initial denials by Iranian officials.
• COVID-19 Vaccine Ban: Posts referencing the ban on importing the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine by the Supreme Leader, with critics suggesting the decision slowed vaccination efforts during a period of high daily deaths.

Poverty and Social Hardship

• Shahriar Homelessness (2016): Photos of homeless individuals sleeping in graves, which highlighted poverty and inequality.
• Neighborhood Living Conditions: Other posts depicting living conditions in neighborhoods compared by users to war-damaged areas, reinforcing the campaign's central theme.

Participants assert that these images represent a fraction of the tragedies associated with over four decades of Islamic Republic rule. The campaign aims to construct a visual timeline of events that, for many, illustrate that significant national crises have stemmed from internal issues rather than foreign conflicts.