Pro-Iran groups have employed artificial intelligence to create sophisticated internet memes in English, aiming to influence the narrative during the conflict with the US and Israel and to generate opposition to it. Analysts suggest the memes originate from groups linked to the Iranian government, forming part of a strategy to maximise limited resources against the US, including indirect methods such as controlling the Strait of Hormuz.
Neil Lavie-Driver, an AI researcher at the University of Cambridge, described it as a propaganda war for Iran, with the goal of sowing discontent to force the West to capitulate. The use of memes in conflict is not new, but AI-generated imagery has become more prevalent, as seen in Ukraine after the 2022 Russian invasion and during the Israel-Iran war last year.
The memes, fluent in English and American culture, target US officials, particularly President Donald Trump, portraying him as old, isolated, and out of touch. They reference topics such as bruising on Trump's hand, infighting within his MAGA base, and the confirmation hearing of Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. One series uses a 'Lego' animation style, featuring an Iranian commander rapping about turning US bases into stone as Trump falls into a bullseye made of 'Epstein files'.
Mahsa Alimardani of WITNESS, a human rights group, believes the sophistication and internet access required indicate ties to government offices, despite severe internet restrictions in Iran. State media has reposted some memes, including from the account Akhbar Enfejari (Explosive News), which claims to be an independent group of Iranians working voluntarily without government funding.
The group stated they are producing content from within Iran to disrupt Western media dominance, saying, 'This time, we’ve disrupted the game.' Iranian government accounts have also directly trolled the US, such as a post from Iran's Embassy in South Africa declaring a 'new world superpower' after a ceasefire. Analysts attribute their deep understanding of US politics to traditional propaganda methods, now enhanced by AI.
