False Iranian quote spread from Indian Twitter account to Netanyahu speech in 8 hours

A fabricated quote attributed to Iranian Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, claiming Iran would continue developing nuclear weapons, spread from an Indian Twitter account to a speech by PM Netanyahu within eight hours. The New York Times reported the quote appeared intended to bolster Netanyahu's claims. The quote was amplified by pro-Israel accounts and cited by Netanyahu at a Mount Herzl ceremony, despite doubts raised by Ynet and fact-checkers.

A fabricated quote attributed to Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, claiming Iran would continue developing nuclear weapons, spread from an anonymous Indian Twitter account to a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu within eight hours, according to reports. The New York Times reported on Sunday that the quote, which first appeared on August 5 on an Indian Hindu nationalist account, appeared intended to bolster Netanyahu's longstanding claim that Iran is determined to build a nuclear weapon. The quote was amplified by the Mossad Commentary account, which has no links to the Israeli intelligence agency, and by the pro-Netanyahu Channel 14, which claimed it was the first time an Iranian official admitted to pursuing nuclear weapons. Yair Netanyahu, the premier's son, also shared the post. Netanyahu cited the quote in a speech at a state ceremony at Mount Herzl, saying, "Today we heard the commander of the Revolutionary Guards declare Iran's intention to continue to develop nuclear weapons." The quote was later shared by US Ambassador to UN Mike Waltz and disseminated on Israel's official Persian social media account and Fox News. Fact-checking organization Bodkim noted the account had spread unsourced information before, and Darren L. Linvill of Clemson University called it a classic case of information laundering.