Iranians turn to humor to ridicule state's missile attack on Israel

In the immediate aftermath of Iran's second missile barrage against Israel this year, Iranians turned to social media—not with fear or outrage, but largely with sharp humor.

The country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired over 180 missiles towards Israel, claiming retaliation for the assassination of several key figures, including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan.

The attack's minimal physical impact on Israel quickly became a source of online ridicule among many Iranians.

Instead of rallying behind their government's military display, many Iranians responded with humor, highlighting a widespread sense of skepticism and frustration toward the rulers of their country.

In one example, a viral video of an apparent failed missile launch in Zanjan, 300 kilometers from Tehran, became a source of widespread amusement. The seemingly malfunctioning missile, which crashed after launch, was humorously compared to a broken water heater, with jokes circulating about selling it for scrap metal.

Another widely shared meme depicted Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei holding a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher. Instead of hitting Israel, the RPG backfired and struck Iran, serving as a visual metaphor for the country’s perceived self-sabotage.

In one of the more scathing social media exchanges, hardline MP Hamid Rasaie tweeted, asking if others believed that former IRGC Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah were the ones who launched the missiles. A respondent sarcastically shot back, "Of course not! We don’t use meth like you!"—implying that only someone disconnected from reality, or under the influence of drugs, would think such a thing.

Iranians also found humor in the timing of the missile launch. One user noted that Tuesday's attack took place in the early evening, in contrast to the April strike, which happened in the early morning hours. The user quipped, “Good for President Pezeshkian! Under Raisi, we had to stay awake until 6 in the morning.”

A video of a celebration in the religious city of Qom, where supporters of the Islamic government gathered to cheer the missile attack, became another target of mockery. During the fireworks display, some fireworks accidentally exploded within the crowd, prompting one user to joke, “The casualties from this celebration were higher than those from the attack on Israel.”

Even Iran’s top military leaders were not spared from public scorn. A clip showing IRGC chief Hossein Salami and other commanders cheering as missiles were launched went viral, with many mocking their childlike excitement. “Look at him, getting excited like a donkey given a treat,” one commenter wrote, referring to Salami’s apparent amazement at the successful missile firing. “The fool—it’s the first time in his life he’s seen how a missile works, and yet he’s called a commander.”

Some users also sarcastically referenced the missile attack's stated goal of avenging Palestinian deaths. After reports emerged that a Palestinian man had been the only person killed by shrapnel from an Iranian missile, one user shared the news with the caption: “Palestinians after this attack: ‘Guys, it’s okay, can you not take revenge for us anymore?’”