After reports of the death of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei were widely circulated online, with state media describing him as being in “paradise” surrounded by 72 virgins, a viral image went viral on social platforms.Posts on X and other platforms claimed the image, which originated from Iranian state media, showed Khamenei in a heavenly garden surrounded by dozens of young girls in school uniforms and headscarves – which critics interpreted as a reference to the concept of “72 virgins” in popular discourse associated with Islamic afterlife rewards.
This statement is false.There is no verified evidence that any Iranian state media published such an image. The video circulating online is a digitally manipulated composite that has been wrongly attributed to an official source.
what is trending
The picture shows Khamenei sitting in a garden-like “paradise” environment, surrounded by many young girls. Many users linked the scene to the controversial “72 Virgins” theme, sparking outrage and accusations of depravity.However, several key facts disprove this claim:There is no record of the photo on Iranian state media such as Press TV, IRNA, Mehr News Agency, Tasnim or Khamenei’s official channel.This image will not appear in archived posts from verified official media accounts.Searches and archival examinations revealed no verified evidence published by Iranian media.The image appears to have been widely shared during a moment of heightened tension online and wrongly attributed to state media.
what the image actually is
The viral image is a digitally manipulated composite.It appears to have been created by taking real photos of past events in which Khamenei met a group of female students during an official ceremony and inserting them into a fictional “paradise” or paradise-style setting.The original photos are public and date back several years.Additionally, some versions of the viral image included a fake screenshot layout that was wrongly attributed to Iranian state-affiliated media outlet Meir News Agency. There is no evidence that Mel News or any other official Iranian organization published this image.
What Iranian state media actually publishes
Contrary to claims of virality, Iranian state media coverage of Khamenei’s death has been dominated by traditional mourning.State media characterized him as a martyr, using:
- black theme graphics
- quran verses
- Formal condolence letter
- Traditional language associated with national mourning
No verified Iranian state media has published:
- Any image depicting Khamenei in heaven
- Any reference to “72 Virgins.”
- Any images involving children in the afterlife
in conclusion
Iranian state media’s description of Khamenei as having “72 virgins” in heaven is not supported by evidence.Viral images are manipulated composites that use real photos from past public events combined with fabricated backgrounds and, in some cases, fake media screenshots.There is no record of any official Iranian media publishing the report.
