Former Israeli Spokesperson Claims Iran Manipulates US Public Opinion by Exploiting Social Divisions

Iranian pressure tactics on American social sentiment are becoming increasingly sophisticated, according to former Israeli Government spokesperson Eylon Levy, who claims Tehran is deliberately targeting divisive issues within U.S. society to manipulate public opinion.

In a recent analysis, Levy highlighted how Iranian state actors have adopted strategic messaging that exploits America’s most contentious social and political fault lines. This approach represents a significant evolution in Iran’s influence operations directed at Western audiences.

“What we’re seeing is a calculated effort by the Iranian regime to identify and press on the most sensitive buttons within American society,” Levy explained during an interview. “This isn’t random messaging—it’s precision targeting of cultural and political pressure points that already divide Americans.”

Intelligence experts note that Iran’s digital influence campaigns have grown considerably more nuanced in recent years. Where previous efforts often relied on crude propaganda or straightforward misinformation, current strategies demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of American cultural dynamics and political polarization.

The timing of these intensified influence operations coincides with heightened tensions between Iran and the West, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear program and its regional activities through proxy groups in the Middle East. The situation has become further complicated by Iran’s deepening relationships with Russia and China, creating what some analysts describe as an emerging anti-Western alliance.

Social media platforms have become the primary battleground for these influence campaigns. Iranian-linked accounts have been documented spreading tailored narratives across multiple platforms, often masquerading as American citizens or legitimate news sources. These operations typically amplify existing controversies rather than creating new ones—a more efficient approach that requires less resources while potentially yielding greater impact.

“They’ve studied America’s pain points extensively,” noted Dr. Sarah Montgomery, a disinformation researcher at the Atlantic Council. “Race relations, economic inequality, immigration, gun control—these are all issues where Iran has injected carefully crafted messaging designed to inflame tensions rather than contribute to meaningful discourse.”

This strategy marks a departure from Iran’s historical approach to international communication, which often focused on promoting its own geopolitical narratives or defending its actions on the world stage. The shift toward manipulating domestic public opinion in adversary nations represents a more aggressive posture in information warfare.

U.S. intelligence agencies have been tracking these efforts for several years. A 2021 assessment from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence specifically identified Iran as a growing threat in the realm of foreign influence operations targeting American public discourse.

The impact of these campaigns remains difficult to quantify precisely, but experts warn they contribute to an already fractured information ecosystem. When foreign adversaries amplify domestic divisions, they potentially undermine the cohesion necessary for effective governance and policy formation.

Media literacy advocates emphasize that awareness is the first line of defense against such manipulation. “Understanding that certain inflammatory content may be strategically deployed by foreign actors helps citizens become more discerning consumers of information,” explained Marcus Chen, director of the Center for Media Resilience.

For Israel, which considers Iran its most significant security threat, the regime’s growing proficiency in information operations presents yet another dimension to an already complex regional rivalry. Levy’s comments reflect Israeli concerns that Iran’s influence campaigns could undermine Western support for Israel by manipulating public sentiment in allied nations.

As geopolitical tensions continue to evolve in the Middle East, the information domain increasingly represents a critical theater of competition. Iran’s apparent focus on exploiting American societal divisions suggests a recognition that weakening social cohesion in adversary nations may be as strategically valuable as traditional forms of power projection.

Cybersecurity and intelligence officials continue to monitor these activities, but the inherently open nature of democratic discourse creates persistent vulnerabilities to such influence operations—highlighting the delicate balance between maintaining free expression and protecting against foreign manipulation.