As missiles lit the sky over Tehran on June 13, 2025, social media sleuths and internet conspiracy theorists were already buzzing—not about classified briefings or leaked intelligence, but about pizza. Specifically, a sudden spike in orders at pizza joints near the Pentagon, which occurred just an hour before Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Iranian targets.
This curious phenomenon, known as the Pentagon Pizza Theory, has resurfaced once again, drawing attention for what some call a pattern too uncanny to ignore.
What Is the Pentagon Pizza Theory?
First coined during the Cold War and later popularized in the 1990s by Washington-area Domino’s franchisee Frank Meeks, the Pentagon Pizza Theory suggests that sudden surges in pizza orders near the U.S. Department of Defense building may precede major geopolitical events.
According to accounts from that era, Meeks noticed a noticeable uptick in deliveries before major global developments—such as Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Operation Desert Storm in 1991, and the 1998 impeachment hearings of President Bill Clinton. The theory gained traction when Soviet operatives reportedly monitored U.S. pizza activity during the Cold War, calling their observations “Pizzint”—short for pizza intelligence.
Why It’s Back in the Spotlight?
On June 13, 2025, the now-viral social media X account @PenPizzaReport posted data showing a major spike in activity at several Arlington pizzerias, including We, The Pizza, District Pizza Palace, Domino’s, and Extreme Pizza, around 6:59 PM ET. By 7:10 PM ET, the activity reportedly dropped sharply coinciding almost exactly with the timing of Israel’s military action against Iran.
The timing was enough to reignite speculation. “Nearly all pizza establishments nearby the Pentagon have experienced a HUGE surge in activity,” the account posted, alongside bar graphs allegedly generated using Google Maps’ “busyness” indicators.
An hour later, Iranian news agencies reported explosions in Tehran. By dawn, confirmation came: Israel had struck Iranian military targets, reportedly killing top commanders including Hossein Salami and General Mohammad Bagheri.
Skepticism and Satire
Despite the intrigue, the Pentagon has officially denied any link between pizza orders and classified operations. A spokesperson humorously noted that personnel have a range of food choices on the premises, including sushi and doughnuts—not just pizza.
Nevertheless, social media users ran with the idea.
“They should really open a secret Dominos inside the building,” quipped one user.
“I feel like this really is telling us there’s a panic at these places,” said another.
Former CNN Pentagon correspondent Wolf Blitzer once joked in 1990: “The bottom line for journalists: always keep an eye on the pizzas.”
Coincidence or Indicator?
While no scientific evidence supports a correlation, the Pentagon Pizza Theory continues to fascinate those who seek unconventional ways to forecast world events. Similar to how Baba Vanga or Nostradamus are cited after major catastrophes, pizza deliveries have, oddly enough, entered the realm of pseudo-predictive tools.
The Pentagon Pizza Index—an OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) offshoot—claims to monitor Google Maps traffic and order volume in real time. While officially unaffiliated with any agency, the group insists the index is a valid, if unconventional, early warning signal.
A Slice of the Future?
Whether mere coincidence or an overlooked pattern, the Pentagon Pizza Theory remains a light-hearted yet strangely persistent cultural curiosity. In a world of increasingly advanced intelligence tools, it’s the humble pizza that’s offering some food for thought.
As one user joked, “Forget AI. Just watch the pepperoni.”