The United States and Israel reportedly carried out a joint operation in Iran that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday. According to various claims, Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad played a key role in tracking his exact location before the strike.
Due to the limited verified details about how Khamenei was located, numerous theories have surfaced online — some speculative and others later supported by reporting. These range from claims of implanted dental tracking devices to allegations of a mole within Khamenei’s inner circle, as well as reports of hacked traffic cameras.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated separately that the operation was aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. In announcing Khamenei’s death on Truth Social, Trump described him as “the most evil person in the history of the world.”
The announcement triggered a wave of conspiracy theories across social media. Some users speculated about elaborate Mossad and CIA plots, while others portrayed Khamenei as having chosen not to hide despite knowing the risks posed by Israeli strikes.
The “Tooth Fairy” Theory
One widely circulated theory claims that Mossad operatives posed as doctors and dentists in Iran and implanted tracking devices into the teeth of senior Iranian officials during routine procedures. Another variation suggests similar devices were planted through medical treatments. However, there is no confirmed evidence supporting this claim.
The Inner Circle Mole Theory
Another theory alleges that Esmaail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, acted as a Mossad informant. Social media posts claimed he was present near Khamenei shortly before the strike and left in time to avoid harm. Although rumors of his possible arrest circulated, these allegations remain unverified.
Hacking of Traffic Cameras
Another claim suggested that Israeli intelligence had compromised Tehran’s traffic cameras for years, using the footage to monitor Khamenei’s movements. Reports later indicated that many cameras in Tehran had allegedly been breached, with encrypted footage transmitted to servers in Israel. One camera angle was reportedly particularly useful in tracking routines near Pasteur Street in Tehran.
The BadeSaba App Hack
Separately, Israel was said to have hacked BadeSaba, a popular Iranian prayer app with millions of users, as part of a broader psychological campaign. The app allegedly displayed messages encouraging defections and urging people to rise against the regime. Reports also indicated that several Iranian media outlets were similarly targeted during the cyber operations.
While some claims have gained support through media reporting, others — such as the dental implant and mole theories — continue to circulate without confirmed evidence.
