A fabricated quotation attributed to Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, a commander in Iran's Revolutionary Guards, has caused a significant stir in both Israel and the United States. The quote, which falsely claimed that Iran would not abandon its nuclear ambitions as long as Israel and the US possessed nuclear weapons, originated from an anonymous account on X based in India on August 5. The claim quickly gained traction, leading to its use in a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, illustrating the potential consequences of unchecked misinformation.
The misleading post was first shared by an Indian X account with approximately 175,000 followers. This account has previously been criticized for disseminating false information and content deemed Islamophobic, according to a report by The New York Times. The original post included a photo of Vahidi alongside an AI-generated image of a mushroom cloud, with numerous spelling and grammatical errors in the accompanying text, which raised suspicions about its authenticity.
- Rapid spread of misinformation — The claim was reposted by another Indian account with around 82,000 followers, further amplifying its reach.
- Involvement of Israeli media — The narrative gained traction after being shared by prominent Israeli accounts.
- Political ramifications — The false quote was cited by US politicians, including Mike Waltz, demonstrating its impact across borders.
The quote's journey continued as it was shared by Mossad Commentary, an influential Israeli X account, which claimed the statement represented Iran's determination to pursue nuclear capabilities. The account's operator, Gedaliah Blum, expressed uncertainty about the source of the quote but maintained that he believed Iran was intent on acquiring nuclear weapons. Within half an hour, Israeli Channel 14 featured the quote, claiming it marked Iran's first public acknowledgement of its nuclear ambitions, resulting in over 440,000 views.
As the quote reached Yair Netanyahu, the son of the Prime Minister, it was included in a speech by Benjamin Netanyahu at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. Netanyahu stated, "We heard today the commander of the I.R.G.C., Vahidi, explicitly declaring Iran’s intention to keep developing nuclear weapons," further legitimizing the false narrative. Despite inquiries, Netanyahu's spokesperson did not clarify how the inaccurate quote made it into the speech, although they defended the Prime Minister's consistent warnings regarding Iran's nuclear program.
Following its emergence in the US, the quote was amplified by figures like Senator Rick Scott and media outlets such as Fox News. Waltz's reposting of the quotation led to significant media attention, with Fox News hosts discussing its implications on air. However, as the narrative began to unravel, Waltz's post was removed from X without explanation, and Fox News later acknowledged the inaccuracies, stating that the quote was "unverified and inaccurate". The incident has been characterized by experts as a case of "narrative laundering," where misinformation is circulated among various accounts and institutions until it appears credible.
