Iran Intensifies Propaganda War with Lego-Style Animation Amid Middle East Conflict

In a striking escalation of its information warfare strategy, Iran has released a provocative Lego-style animation video portraying former U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as callous aggressors responsible for civilian casualties. The video, produced by Iran’s state-run Revayat-e Fath institute, has gained significant traction across social media platforms amid the widening conflict in the Middle East.

The animation appears to be a direct response to the February 28 Israeli and U.S. military operations that reportedly resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The dialogue-free video depicts Trump, Netanyahu, and a devil character examining what is labeled as the “Epstein file,” a reference that appears designed to evoke controversy and moral condemnation.

In the animation’s most jarring sequence, Trump is shown angrily pressing a red button that launches a missile strike on a classroom filled with young girls in pink headscarves. The scene turns dark immediately after a teacher writes “My homeland is my life” on the blackboard. The aftermath reveals only rubble, a pink backpack, and small pink shoes among the destruction.

The video culminates with an Iranian military officer discovering these remnants, weeping before his grief transforms into rage, triggering Iranian retaliatory strikes against U.S. and Israeli targets across the region.

This sophisticated propaganda effort comes at a critical moment as Iran not only defends itself militarily but also works to shape global public opinion regarding the ongoing conflict. The animation specifically references a controversial strike in Minab that reportedly killed approximately 170 people, including over 100 schoolgirls, during early U.S.-Israeli operations in February.

Media experts note that Iran’s propaganda strategy has evolved significantly in recent years, with increased focus on emotional storytelling and relatable imagery that can transcend language barriers and cultural differences. The use of the universally recognized Lego aesthetic appears calculated to reach wider, potentially younger audiences while simplifying complex geopolitical narratives.

The international response to the Minab school incident has been one of widespread condemnation. Trump has publicly stated he would accept the findings of a Pentagon investigation into the strike, though he initially expressed skepticism about Iran’s claims, suggesting the country might have orchestrated the attack itself using a Tomahawk missile.

“Whatever the report shows, I’m willing to live with that report,” Trump stated, according to reports.

Regional analysts suggest that Iran’s propaganda efforts represent a crucial dimension of its overall strategy in the conflict. By highlighting civilian casualties and framing itself as defending against foreign aggression, Iran aims to build domestic support while undermining international backing for U.S. and Israeli military actions.

The conflict has continued to intensify in recent weeks, with Iran expanding military operations against Gulf neighbors and increasing its support for allied militant groups across the region. This propaganda video marks a significant development in how the Islamic Republic communicates its narrative to both domestic and international audiences.

Media watchdogs have noted that while propaganda has always been a component of warfare, digital technologies have transformed how quickly and effectively such content can spread. The animation’s simplified moral messaging and emotional appeal demonstrate Iran’s understanding of modern information warfare tactics.

As tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, the battle for hearts and minds through carefully crafted media narratives appears to be nearly as important to Iranian leadership as conventional military operations.