Prediction or Insider Knowledge? David Keyes’ "Next" Post on Larijani Goes Viral
Unverified claims and viral posts deepen confusion over reported killing of Iran’s senior leader.
Confusion and competing narratives have emerged amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East after Israel claimed it had killed senior Iranian figure Ali Larijani, even as a viral social media post by David Keyes drew attention for seemingly predicting the development. The lack of confirmation from Iran has further deepened uncertainty surrounding the situation.
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said Larijani was “eliminated last night,” describing the reported strike as a significant blow to Iran’s leadership during an intensifying regional conflict. However, Iranian authorities have not confirmed the claim, leaving analysts cautious about drawing conclusions.
Larijani, 68, has long been regarded as a key figure in Iran’s strategic and political establishment, particularly in matters related to nuclear policy and diplomacy. His influence was believed to have grown further in recent weeks following reports of the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in alleged US-Israeli strikes on February 28, though those claims also remain contested.
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Amid this uncertainty, attention has turned to a March 13 post by Keyes, a former aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the post, he suggested that Larijani would be “next,” citing an unnamed source. After Israel’s announcement, Keyes followed up with a brief “told you,” prompting speculation online about whether his earlier message reflected insider knowledge.
However, many observers have dismissed the post as satire rather than a credible intelligence leak. Some users noted that the name referenced in the original message appeared to be a pun, indicating it may have been intended as dark humour. Responses generated by the AI chatbot Grok also suggested the post was not based on real intelligence, reinforcing scepticism about its authenticity.
Separately, Israel claimed it had killed Gholamreza Soleimani, head of Iran’s Basij paramilitary force, in a strike in Tehran a day earlier, though this too remains unverified by Iranian officials. Adding to the ambiguity, Larijani’s social media accounts later posted an undated handwritten note attributed to him without directly addressing the reports of his death. With no independent confirmation, the situation remains unclear as the broader conflict continues to escalate.
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