Iran Uses Various Groups to Export Propaganda to US, Panel Says

In a comprehensive analysis of Iran’s geopolitical situation, a distinguished panel of former military and intelligence experts gathered to discuss the evolving dynamics between the United States and Iran under President Trump’s administration.

Former Green Beret captain John Paluska, retired CIA senior operations officer Rick de la Torre, and former Navy SEAL and FBI special agent Jonathan Gilliam shared their insights with NTD’s Steve Lance, focusing on Trump’s demand for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and parallels to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

De la Torre highlighted Iran’s dual messaging strategy—projecting strength to regime supporters while facing a different reality with its own citizens who oppose the government. He noted the concerning rise of sophisticated disinformation, including AI-generated propaganda from China falsely depicting the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln being destroyed by Iranian missiles with claims of 5,000 American casualties.

“These fabricated narratives are designed to undermine American resolve and sow confusion among allies,” de la Torre explained, emphasizing how digital warfare has become a critical component of modern geopolitical conflicts.

The panel expressed particular concern about Iran’s intelligence operations within American borders. Gilliam warned that Iran has cultivated a network of sympathizers and leverages what he termed the “Red-Green alliance”—a collaboration between communist ideologies and Islamic extremism—to influence American discourse and even foment civil unrest, citing disturbances in Minneapolis as an example.

“Iran’s influence operations aren’t limited to the Middle East. They’ve created sophisticated channels to amplify their messaging through certain political factions within the United States,” Gilliam stated.

Regarding military timelines, the experts addressed President Trump’s projected 4-6 week window for resolution with Iran. Paluska cautioned against overly optimistic expectations, drawing an important distinction between military victory and sustainable peace.

“Winning battles doesn’t automatically translate to winning the peace,” Paluska noted. “Even after conventional military objectives are achieved, drone warfare and AI-driven conflicts will likely persist, creating ongoing security challenges that extend well beyond the initial timeline.”

The conversation also explored America’s current strategy of degrading Iran’s military capabilities while simultaneously attempting to embolden Iranian citizens who desire regime change. The panel suggested that this dual approach represents a significant shift from previous administrations’ Iran policies.

In a remarkable tactical development, the experts discussed how the United States has reportedly been reverse-engineering captured Iranian drones and deploying similar technology against Iranian targets—a modern example of turning an adversary’s weapons against them.

The discussion broadened to examine how these developments affect the global balance of power, particularly regarding China’s position. The experts noted that U.S. military actions in both Venezuela and Iran are being closely monitored by Beijing, which faces its own strategic challenges as American energy policies impact global oil markets.

China stands to lose significant economic leverage as the United States diverts 20-25 percent of crude oil that would otherwise flow to Chinese markets, creating additional pressure on the Chinese Communist regime at a time of increasing international isolation.

The panel concluded that the coming months will be pivotal for the Middle East’s power dynamics, with Iran’s response to American pressure potentially reshaping regional alliances and security frameworks for decades to come. However, they cautioned that regardless of immediate military outcomes, the underlying ideological and proxy conflicts would likely continue through other means.