False Iranian nuke quote spread from Indian Twitter account to Netanyahu speech in 8 hours
A made-up quote from an Iranian general saying that Tehran was working toward nuclear weapons and would continue to do so spread all the way from anonymous social media accounts to a speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu within a few hours earlier this month.The New York Times said in a Sunday report that there was “no evidence” that the Iranian general made the comment. While it was unclear where exactly the fake quote originated, the paper went on, “it appeared intended to bolster Mr. Netanyahu’s longstanding claim that Iran is determined to build a nuclear weapon.”Iran, which routinely calls for the destruction of Israel, maintains that its nuclear program is for purely civilian purposes. However, it has enriched uranium to levels far beyond what’s necessary for any peaceful application, and consistently obstructed international inspectors from checking its facilities. Israel has also said Iran has taken steps toward weaponization.The quote,…
A fabricated quote from an Iranian general, Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, stating Iran's intent to develop nuclear weapons, spread from an Indian Twitter account to a speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu within approximately eight hours. The quote, which appeared on August 5 on an Indian account with tens of thousands of followers, claimed, "There will be no talk on Enriched Urenium [sic] or nuclear weapons, as long as US & Israel are owning nuclear weapons, we will keep working on it for national security."
Today we heard the commander of the Revolutionary Guards declare Iran’s intention to continue to develop nuclear weapons.
The New York Times reported no evidence of Vahidi making the comment, suggesting it aimed to support Netanyahu's claims about Iran's nuclear ambitions. The quote was amplified by various accounts, including one with no links to Mossad, and Channel 14, before being shared by Yair Netanyahu. Prime Minister Netanyahu cited the quote in a speech, emphasizing, "He said 'to continue.' As the prime minister of Israel, I too am determined to continue. To continue to prevent it from doing so." This incident is cited as a classic example of information laundering, where a false narrative gains credibility through circular reporting by mainstream outlets.
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