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Iran’s Propaganda Network Targets Latin America with Antisemitic Content, ADL Report Finds
Iran has dramatically expanded its disinformation campaign against Israel into Latin America, using its Spanish-language network HispanTV to broadcast antisemitic propaganda and pro-terrorist messaging to millions of Spanish speakers, according to a new report by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
The report, released Tuesday, details a significant increase over the past two years in antisemitic and anti-Israel content on HispanTV, which has operated since 2012. The network reaches a potential audience of nearly 600 million Spanish speakers through various platforms including satellite, cable, livestreaming, and social media.
“The Iranian regime’s media outlet is spreading classic antisemitic conspiracy theories and anti-Israel propaganda to potentially millions of people across Latin America and beyond, making the Islamic Republic a destabilizing force not only in the Middle East, but across the Spanish-speaking world,” said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt in a statement accompanying the report.
The ADL characterizes HispanTV as “the world’s leading platform for peddling antisemitic hate and disseminating anti-Israel prejudice and incitement across Latin America and the wider Spanish-speaking world.” The organization notes that the network’s hateful content has escalated sharply following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Researchers found that HispanTV consistently portrays Hamas’s October 7 attacks as “legitimate and praiseworthy acts of resistance worthy of celebration.” According to the report, this reframing serves as a central element of the channel’s ideological project, “converting mass violence into a foundational myth of liberation.”
The Iranian network promotes several recurring antisemitic themes throughout its programming. It depicts Jews and Zionism as “an omnipresent, evil force” manipulating governments through coordinated malicious schemes, reinforcing deeply entrenched stereotypes about Jewish influence and power. The network also portrays Israel as a “colonial,” “genocidal,” and “terrorist” project while systematically undermining the Jewish state’s right to exist.
Another concerning pattern identified in the report is HispanTV’s glorification of terrorist organizations. The network depicts groups like Hamas and Hezbollah as “extraordinary examples of heroism and bravery,” celebrates attacks against civilians, and promotes continued violence until the “complete annihilation of the occupants” — an apparent reference to Israel.
The propaganda efforts extend beyond attacking Israel and Jewish people. The report notes that HispanTV presents the Iranian regime as a principled alternative to Western democracies and positions Tehran as the leader of the “Axis of Resistance.” This messaging aims to build support for Iran’s geopolitical ambitions throughout Latin America.
HispanTV also attempts to discredit concerns about antisemitism by suggesting Jews and Israelis operate “a highly organized global disinformation apparatus designed to deceive the world and justify genocide,” effectively minimizing or denying the reality of antisemitism worldwide.
The ADL warns that the lack of decisive action by governments, international bodies, and corporations has allowed Iran to leverage HispanTV to disseminate hateful conspiracies globally. “With antisemitism already at historic levels globally, Tehran is funding a massive media propaganda operation that is priming the pump for spreading antisemitism and hate against Israel and Jews the world over,” Greenblatt stated.
The consequences of this unchecked propaganda could be severe, according to the report. “If this threat is not seriously addressed, the result will likely be the radicalization of Spanish-speaking audiences across Latin America and beyond,” the ADL concludes.
This expansion of Iranian influence operations into Latin America represents a significant evolution in Tehran’s global information warfare strategy, targeting regions where it perceives opportunities to shape public opinion against Western interests and Israel specifically. The phenomenon highlights the increasingly global nature of information conflicts that extend well beyond the Middle East.
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9 Comments
Iran’s expansion of its anti-Israel and antisemitic messaging into Latin America through HispanTV is a troubling development. Increased awareness and a coordinated response from regional and global stakeholders will be necessary to address this threat.
This report highlights the Iranian regime’s efforts to export its brand of extremism and intolerance to new regions. Combating the spread of antisemitic and anti-Israel content through media outlets should be a key focus for international organizations and policymakers.
This is concerning to see Iran spreading hateful propaganda through a Spanish-language network targeting Latin America. Antisemitism and extremist ideology have no place in the media.
The Iranian government’s use of Spanish-language media to target Latin America with hateful propaganda is deeply concerning. Efforts to counter this disinformation and promote media literacy in the region are crucial.
While Iran has a history of using propaganda to advance its agenda, expanding antisemitic content into Latin America is a new and concerning development. This deserves close monitoring and a strong response from the international community.
The Iranian regime’s use of media outlets to spread disinformation and anti-Israel rhetoric is troubling. It’s important to be vigilant against the spread of such harmful content, especially in vulnerable regions.
I agree. The ADL report highlights the scale of this propaganda campaign, which could have destabilizing effects across Latin America. Fact-checking and media literacy are crucial to combat this threat.
It’s disappointing to see Iran exploiting media platforms to amplify hateful ideologies. Spreading anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric is a tactic to sow division and instability. Countering this disinformation should be a priority.
You’re right. The reach of HispanTV across Latin America makes this a particularly worrying situation. Increased scrutiny and fact-checking efforts are needed to limit the impact of this propaganda campaign.