Pro-Iranian factions are strategically utilizing artificial intelligence to craft sophisticated internet memes aimed at shaping public perception during the ongoing Iran conflict. Analysts suggest this digital campaign is part of a broader effort to generate dissent against U.S. involvement in the region.
AI-driven propaganda in the Iran conflict
Experts indicate that these memes are believed to originate from groups associated with the Tehran government, which are leveraging their limited resources to undermine U.S. influence, albeit indirectly. Neil Lavie-Driver, an AI researcher at the University of Cambridge, stated,
“This is a propaganda war for them. 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.”
The use of memes in wartime is not unprecedented; however, their evolution to include AI-generated imagery marks a new phase in digital warfare. Similar tactics were observed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, where AI imagery flooded social media, and the term “AI slop” emerged during the Israel-Iran conflict regarding the portrayal of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Cultural appropriation and meme proliferation
Since the commencement of the current conflict on February 28, memes have surfaced that mock U.S. officials through well-crafted cartoons. These digital creations draw on elements of American pop culture and have amassed millions of views across various social media platforms. Although the exact impact on public sentiment remains uncertain, the memes depict former President Donald Trump as antiquated and politically isolated, referencing his health issues and internal party strife.
Nancy Snow, a noted scholar on propaganda, observed,
“They’re using popular culture against the number one pop culture country, the United States.”
Among the viral images, some emulate the style of Lego animated films, with one notable piece featuring an Iranian military commander rapping lines such as, “You thought you ran the globe, sitting on your throne. Now we turning every base into a bed of stone,” as Trump is depicted entangled in a bullseye made of Epstein files.
Analysts suggest that the level of sophistication observed in these animations indicates a degree of governmental support, as Mahsa Alimardani of WITNESS points out, stating that producing such content requires significant internet bandwidth and resources. This raises questions about the extent of collaboration between these groups and the Iranian regime, especially in light of the stringent internet restrictions imposed during recent protests.
The state media has actively redistributed some of these memes, including those from the account Akhbar Enfejari, which aims to disrupt the traditional Western media narrative. The group asserts that they are dedicated to countering decades of Western media dominance, claiming,
“This time, something feels different. This time, we’ve disrupted the game. This time, we’re doing it better.”
Following the announcement of a ceasefire, Akhbar Enfejari triumphantly declared, “Iran won! The way to crush imperialism has been shown to the world. Trump surrendered.” In addition to the memes from pro-Iran groups, Iranian government accounts have also been active in trolling the U.S., with a recent post from Iran’s Embassy in South Africa declaring, “Say hello to the new world superpower,” accompanied by an image of the Iranian flag.
Both the U.S. and Iran have claimed victory following a two-week ceasefire, yet analysts note that the Iranian narrative is deeply rooted in a longstanding propaganda initiative that has effectively engaged with American culture and politics.
While the U.S. and Israel have not matched the intensity of this meme campaign, they have attempted to influence public opinion through different means. Early in the conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared a video using AI to simulate his speech in Farsi, encouraging Iranians to challenge their government. Meanwhile, the White House has been releasing memes targeted at a domestic audience, often drawing on American television and sports references.
The Voice of America, which has been a crucial source of news for many countries, continues to broadcast in Farsi, albeit with limited staff since the previous administration’s cutbacks. As Snow warns,
“This world order is really changing overnight and the US is not going to end up necessarily as the state that everybody listens to.”