United States President, Donald Trump, has stirred controversy after alleging that a report on Iran broadcast by CNN originated from a “fake news site from Nigeria,” while rejecting claims by Iran of victory following a recent ceasefire agreement.
Trump made the allegation on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, shortly after announcing a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
Responding to a statement attributed to Iranian authorities, Trump said the version aired by CNN was fabricated. He wrote that the “alleged statement” broadcast by the network was fraudulent and not reflective of Iran’s official position.
According to him, the report was linked to what he described as a Nigerian-based fake news website and was quickly amplified by CNN as a legitimate headline.
Trump maintained that the authentic statement from Iran differed from the one circulated by the network and insisted that the official version had been published on his platform.
In a follow-up post, he escalated his criticism, accusing CNN of knowingly promoting a false and potentially dangerous narrative during a sensitive geopolitical moment. He further claimed the report may have been intended to inflame tensions.
The disputed statement, reportedly attributed to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, suggested that Tehran had secured a “historic and crushing defeat” over the United States and forced Washington to accept aspects of its negotiation terms.
However, Trump dismissed the claim and called on CNN to retract the report and issue a formal apology. He also indicated that authorities were reviewing the matter to determine whether any wrongdoing had occurred in the dissemination of the statement.
The reference to Nigeria has drawn attention, although Trump did not provide evidence to support his claim that the report originated from a Nigerian source.
Supporting the president’s stance, Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, criticised the network, stating that publishing a hoax headline during a national security situation warranted accountability.
CNN, however, stood by its reporting and declined to issue a retraction. A spokesperson for the network said the report was based on information obtained directly from Iranian officials and confirmed by multiple state media outlets in Iran.
The spokesperson added that the statement had been circulated in both English and Farsi across official Iranian platforms and that CNN adhered to standard verification processes before publication.
The dispute comes amid global reactions to the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, reached shortly before a deadline set by Trump for possible military action.
While both countries have claimed success in the standoff, the agreement has been widely viewed as a step toward de-escalation—particularly given the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz to global energy supplies.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, also confirmed that safe passage through the strait would be guaranteed for two weeks under the terms of the agreement.
