Intelligence researchers have identified Iranian-backed organizations utilizing artificial intelligence technology to produce sophisticated digital propaganda targeting American audiences and President Trump during recent military conflicts involving the United States and Israel.
Security experts believe these digital campaigns originate from Tehran-connected entities as part of Iran’s broader strategy to maximize impact despite limited conventional resources. This approach mirrors Iran’s tactics of threatening shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz to pressure global economic stability. While Wednesday’s ceasefire announcement offered hope for reduced tensions, numerous underlying conflicts remain unaddressed.
“This is a propaganda war for them,” said Neil Lavie-Driver, an artificial intelligence researcher at the University of Cambridge, speaking about Iran’s strategy. “Their goal is to sow enough discontent with the conflict as to eventually force the West to cave in, so it is massively important to them.”
Digital memes as warfare tools aren’t unprecedented, though AI-generated imagery represents a recent evolution. Similar artificial intelligence content flooded Ukrainian social media following Russia’s 2022 invasion. The term “AI slop” gained widespread usage last year describing the flood of imperfect digital images circulated online during Israel-Iran hostilities aimed at undermining the country’s nuclear capabilities.
Since the current conflict began February 28th with coordinated U.S.-Israel military actions, these digital campaigns have featured sophisticated animated content mocking American leadership.
The propaganda demonstrates fluency in both English language and American cultural references while mastering internet trolling techniques. Distributed across multiple social media platforms, these materials have generated millions of views, though their actual influence remains unclear.
Content has depicted President Trump as aged, disconnected, and globally isolated. References include speculation about bruising visible on Trump’s right hand that sparked health concerns, divisions within Trump’s MAGA coalition, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s contentious confirmation proceedings.
“They’re using popular culture against the No. 1 pop culture country, the United States,” explained Nancy Snow, a propaganda scholar who has authored over a dozen books on the subject.
Among the Iranian-linked content circulating online are animations mimicking “Lego” movie aesthetics. One features an Iranian military leader rapping, “You thought you ran the globe, sitting on your throne. Now we turning every base into a bed of stone,” while Trump falls into a target constructed from “Epstein files,” referencing government investigation records of the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The production quality and internet infrastructure required suggest government connections, according to Mahsa Alimardani, director of WITNESS, a human rights organization focused on AI video evidence.
“If you’re able to have the bandwidth needed to generate content like that and upload it, you are officially or unofficially cooperating with the regime,” she explained, noting Iran’s severe internet restrictions implemented during nationwide protest crackdowns earlier this year.
Iranian state media has republished several memes, including content from Akhbar Enfejari (meaning Explosive News), the account responsible for the “Lego”-style videos.
Akhbar Enfejari identifies as Iranians creating and distributing content from within Iran to challenge Western media dominance spanning decades.
“They’ve long dominated the media landscape and, through that power, imposed narratives on many nations,” the organization told The Associated Press via Telegram messaging. “But this time, something feels different. This time, we’ve disrupted the game. This time, we’re doing it better.”
Following the ceasefire announcement, Akhbar Enfejari posted: “IRAN WON! The way to crush imperialism has been shown to the world. Trump Surrendered.”
Beyond meme campaigns from pro-Iranian groups, official Iranian government social media accounts have also targeted the United States, including Wednesday’s post from Iran’s South African Embassy stating, “Say hello to the new world superpower,” accompanied by an Iranian flag image. Both nations claimed victory following ceasefire agreements.
Intelligence analysts attribute this sophisticated understanding of American politics and culture to Iran’s long-established propaganda infrastructure: decades of government programs designed to promote anti-American and anti-Israeli narratives.
“This meme war comes from institutions that are very aware what the American public is aware of and pop cultural references that can appeal to them,” Alimardani noted.
Experts indicate the United States and Israel aren’t conducting similar campaigns, and Iran’s internet restrictions would make reaching ordinary Iranian citizens extremely challenging.
Early in the conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released an AI-generated video appearing to show him speaking Farsi, urging Iranians to overthrow their government. The White House maintains steady meme production, but targets American audiences using clips from domestic television shows and sporting events.
The government-operated Voice of America, which historically broadcast news to countries lacking free press traditions for decades, continues Farsi-language programming, though operating with minimal staff since Trump ordered its closure.
“This world order is really changing overnight and the U.S. is not going to end up necessarily as the state that everybody listens to,” Snow observed.
