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Iranian Propaganda Account Based in Canada Exposed Through X Platform Feature
A major Iranian propaganda account promoting the regime and terrorist activities has been revealed to be operating from within Canada, not Iran as it claims, thanks to a location feature on the social media platform X.
Former Ontario Progressive Conservative MPP Goldie Ghamari, herself an Iranian refugee, made the discovery about the Iran Military Monitor account, which boasts over 1.6 million followers while purportedly operating from Iran.
“This account, which has over 1.6 million followers and is based in Canada, has been glorifying and promoting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” Ghamari wrote in a social media post. “The IRGC is a listed terror entity in Canada. This person is a threat to our national security.”
The account’s X profile page contradictorily indicates its location as Canada, though it includes a disclaimer stating that an account’s listed location “can be impacted by recent travel or temporary relocation” and that “this data may not be accurate.”
Content posted by the account clearly demonstrates its alignment with the Iranian regime. One particularly concerning post refers to the IRGC’s Qods forces as “our brothers” despite the organization’s designation as a terrorist entity in Canada. The account regularly shares what it claims is “exclusive” information about Iranian arms deals and has celebrated recent airstrikes against Israel.
The revelation has prompted calls for immediate action from Canadian law enforcement, with some commenters urging the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to investigate and arrest those behind the account.
Avideh Motmaen-Far, president of the Council of Iranian Canadians and a former federal Conservative nominee candidate, expressed little surprise at the discovery. Speaking to True North, she noted that members of the Iranian and Jewish diaspora in Canada have long warned about Iran regime-backed actors operating within the country.
“Despite the IRGC being listed as a terrorist entity, there are still Iran regime-linked companies making money from Canadian business,” Motmaen-Far stated. She described how such accounts have systematically worked to intimidate anti-regime refugees in Canada.
“These are definitely regime-operated accounts. They have at some points bullied us refugees. They misinform, spread hate and disinformation,” she explained. “They use these kinds of accounts as they please. And I think it’s nothing new, but it is alarming that they can do that still despite Trudeau finally listing the IRGC.”
Motmaen-Far expressed support for Conservative MP Roman Baber’s private member’s bill that would criminalize the promotion of terrorism. However, she questioned the efficacy of existing terrorist designations, noting an apparent lack of enforcement.
“What is not clear for me is that, since IRGC has been listed officially as a terrorist entity, what has happened? How has this legislation been implemented by the RCMP?” she questioned. “Every time I spoke with someone from CSIS, they said, ‘We can’t investigate or we cannot make arrests.’ So I am wondering what is the consequence of IRGC being listed or not listed?”
She further alleged that the IRGC continues to fund protests and Hamas supporters in Canada, “bringing people to wreak havoc in the everyday life of the Jewish community or other people.”
When approached for comment on these concerns, CSIS directed True North to the RCMP, which did not provide a timely response. Public Safety Canada offered only general information about terrorist entity listings without addressing specific enforcement actions.
The discovery comes amid heightened concerns about foreign influence operations in Canada. Just this week, the RCMP announced the arrest of a youth in the Greater Toronto Area for allegedly making and editing ISIS propaganda videos, highlighting the ongoing challenges Canadian authorities face in combating terrorist content creation and distribution within its borders.
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9 Comments
This is a concerning development that highlights the need for greater scrutiny of online activities, especially those linked to state-sponsored disinformation campaigns. The Canadian authorities must act swiftly to address this threat to our national security.
This is deeply concerning. A propaganda account based in Canada that glorifies a listed terrorist organization like the IRGC poses a serious threat to national security. The authorities should investigate this thoroughly.
Absolutely, the Canadian government needs to take swift action to shut down this account and hold the operators accountable. We cannot tolerate such blatant undermining of our democracy.
This is a worrying development. If the Iranian regime is using Canada as a base to spread its propaganda, it raises serious questions about the security and integrity of our digital spaces. We need robust measures to identify and stop such activities.
Definitely. This incident underscores the need for greater collaboration between government, social media platforms, and the public to detect and counter foreign influence operations. Vigilance is key.
I’m glad this account has been exposed. It’s crucial that we remain vigilant against foreign interference and disinformation campaigns, even when they originate from within our own borders. Kudos to the officials who uncovered this.
Agreed. Transparency and fact-checking are essential to combat these tactics. We must stay informed and support efforts to protect our democratic institutions.
While I’m not surprised to see the Iranian regime engaging in such tactics, it’s disappointing to learn they’re operating from within Canada. We must remain diligent in defending our values and institutions from these kinds of subversive efforts.
I agree. This serves as a wake-up call that we can’t take our security and democratic processes for granted. Strengthening our defenses against foreign interference should be a top priority.