Iranian Official Ali Larijani Death Videos Debunked: First Clip AI-Generated, Second Unrelated Footage

In a troubling development of digital misinformation, two videos falsely claiming to depict circumstances around the death of Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, have been circulating widely on social media platforms.

Larijani was killed in Israeli airstrikes on March 17, an incident that has further heightened tensions in the already volatile Middle East region. However, an investigation by fact-checkers reveals that viral content purportedly showing both the moment of his death and his mother’s farewell are fabricated or misrepresented.

The first video, which claims to show the explosion that killed Larijani at his daughter’s home, began circulating on X (formerly Twitter) with an inflammatory caption referencing “hatred and disregard for human life” by what the poster called the “Occupation Army.” The post specifically mentioned the controversial Israeli military doctrine known as the “Hannibal Directive.”

Digital forensic analysis of the video, however, revealed multiple inconsistencies. The footage was already online by March 9, more than a week before Larijani’s confirmed death on March 17. Furthermore, close examination showed telltale signs of artificial creation, including unnatural smoke behavior and missing impact trajectories for the explosions depicted.

When subjected to AI detection tools, the video registered as 99.9 percent artificially generated, confirming suspicions that it was created using generative technology rather than capturing an actual event. The account that originally shared the footage appears to regularly post AI-generated content and gaming videos with pro-Iranian narratives.

The second misleading video shows an elderly woman paying respects to a body in a coffin, claimed to be Larijani’s mother bidding farewell to her son. This footage was traced back to social media posts from November 2025, months before Larijani’s death, definitively proving it has no connection to the Iranian official.

Iranian state media ISNA published official photographs of Larijani’s actual funeral, showing a coffin with markedly different features from the one in the viral video. The authentic reports indicate the older footage likely depicts a completely unrelated funeral, possibly of a soldier described as a “martyr of the Sacred Defence.”

This incident highlights the growing challenge of synthetic media in conflict reporting. As tensions between Iran and Israel continue to escalate following a series of retaliatory strikes and counter-strikes in recent months, the information environment has become increasingly polluted with misleading content.

Experts in digital media literacy warn that AI-generated content is becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect without specialized tools. The rapid spread of these fabricated videos across multiple platforms demonstrates how easily misinformation can gain traction during geopolitical crises, potentially inflaming tensions and complicating diplomatic efforts.

The death of Larijani, a prominent figure in Iran’s political and security establishment, represents a significant escalation in the ongoing shadow war between Iran and Israel. As international mediators attempt to prevent further deterioration of the situation, the proliferation of fake content threatens to undermine accurate reporting and public understanding of events.

Social media platforms continue to grapple with effective policies to flag or remove such content, particularly when it involves rapidly developing international incidents. This case underscores the importance of verification and the role of professional fact-checking organizations in countering digital misinformation during times of international conflict.