Iranian-Linked Social Media Accounts Found Spreading Propaganda, Study Reveals

Iranian Social Media Campaign Uncovered Spreading Anti-U.S. and Anti-Israel Content

A comprehensive investigation by Clemson University has revealed a coordinated network of at least 62 social media accounts linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) actively pushing anti-Israel and anti-U.S. propaganda during the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States.

According to the report released Wednesday, the accounts operated across multiple platforms—47 on X (formerly Twitter), nine on Instagram, and five on Bluesky. While presenting themselves as users from the Americas, England, Scotland, or Ireland, these accounts systematically amplified divisive content and disinformation aligned with Iranian government narratives.

Most of the accounts were less than a year old, though some dated back to December 2023. Researchers noted a significant shift in messaging strategy following the February 28 military strikes against Iran by Israel and the United States. Before the airstrikes, these accounts primarily focused on exploiting domestic political divisions, but afterward pivoted sharply to pro-Tehran messaging supportive of the regime.

“There is a coordinated inauthentic social-media campaign targeting online discourse around the war between Israel, the United States, and Iran,” the report stated. “All these accounts systematically amplify politically divisive content and disinformation aligned with IRGC narratives, and they are designed to exploit regional fault lines to advance Iranian regime interests.”

The investigation revealed that X accounts within the network generated 59,403 original posts that were subsequently reposted thousands of times, potentially reaching millions of users through organic engagement. The accounts also deployed AI-generated images and false videos to spread inaccurate information about the ongoing military operations.

This type of coordinated influence operation represents a growing threat to authentic online discourse, particularly during international crises. The researchers emphasized the importance of continued monitoring of communities vulnerable to foreign influence: “It will be important to continue to monitor communities found to be at particular risk of foreign influence to mitigate potential harms to authentic discourse. This is particularly true at times of global crisis.”

In response to the findings, Bluesky confirmed it had removed all accounts identified in the report for violating community guidelines. Meta, the parent company of Instagram, stated that it “prohibits coordinated inauthentic behavior and individuals and organizations tied to terrorism,” and removes such accounts when detected.

A Meta spokesperson also clarified that one-third of the Instagram accounts listed in the report were not active during the war, and the remaining accounts collectively had fewer than 2,000 followers. Fox News Digital reportedly reached out to X for comment but did not receive a response at the time of reporting.

The operation highlights Iran’s ongoing efforts to shape international narrative and public opinion through social media manipulation. The IRGC, a powerful branch of Iran’s armed forces designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, has expanded its information warfare capabilities in recent years as tensions with the U.S. and Israel have escalated.

This discovery comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Iran and Israel exchanging military strikes and the United States becoming increasingly involved in the conflict. The Iranian regime appears to be employing sophisticated information operations alongside conventional military actions to advance its strategic interests.

The Clemson University researchers concluded their report by emphasizing the growing sophistication of foreign influence operations and the need for platforms, researchers, and users to remain vigilant against such manipulation, especially during times of international conflict when accurate information is crucial for public understanding and policy responses.