Shayan Sardarizadeh has raised doubts about the authenticity of a widely circulated image of Mojtaba Khamenei, suggesting the photo may have been manipulated using artificial intelligence.
Sardarizadeh, a senior journalist with BBC Verify who specialises in disinformation analysis, said the image shared by Iranian state media and posted on Khamenei’s account on X shows indications of AI editing.
According to his analysis, the image appears to have been altered rather than being a newly captured photograph. He noted that detection tools from Google identified SynthID watermarks in the picture, which indicate the use of Google’s AI tools for image modification.
Sardarizadeh also explained that a reverse image search suggests the photo was derived from an older image taken several years ago at a pro-government rally. In the newer version circulating online, the background and people around Khamenei appear to have been digitally removed or modified.
The image has been widely distributed by Iranian state media and appears on Khamenei’s recently created social media account. Metadata linked to the account reportedly indicates it was set up from the Netherlands.
The controversy over the image has intensified speculation about the condition of the Iranian leader, who has not appeared publicly since assuming power following the death of his father, former leader Ali Khamenei.
Unconfirmed reports have suggested that Mojtaba Khamenei may have been injured in the February 28 airstrike that killed his father. Some claims reported by The Sun suggested he was in a coma and receiving treatment at Sina University Hospital in Tehran.
Iranian officials have rejected those reports. Yousef Pezeshkian, son of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, stated that Khamenei is “safe and sound,” although earlier reports indicated he may have suffered injuries during the strikes.
The absence of verified recent images or public appearances has continued to fuel speculation about the leader’s condition, with some analysts suggesting the lack of visibility could be a deliberate effort by Iranian authorities to maintain the appearance of political stability during the ongoing conflict.
