This truly seems like nonsense. Claims that the government can remotely detonate pagers or smartphones have no scientific basis. The idea that an iPhone or any other phone can be "induced" to explode is also far-fetched. This would require special modifications with explosive materials, and regular smartphones or pagers simply do not explode due to signals or software manipulations.
If smartphones do catch fire, it is usually due to battery malfunction (e.g., overheating or a defective battery), but this is not something that can be triggered remotely by government operations.
Therefore, this is most likely another conspiracy theory or misinformation.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – Regulations on electronic device interference and safety: FCC Device Safety Regulations
IEEE Spectrum – Insights into smartphone battery fires and safety measures: Smartphone Battery Fires
Expert Opinion:
Experts in electronics and battery technology confirm that fears of remote detonation of pagers or smartphones are unfounded. Lithium-ion battery fires can happen, but they are typically due to hardware defects, not external signals or government interference. It’s crucial to differentiate between rare battery malfunctions and improbable claims of external device manipulation.