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AI-generated pro-Iran propaganda proliferates on social media

Mikael Thalen (Tech Reporter)
Pro-Iran propaganda generated by artificial intelligence is proliferating on social media, generating tens of millions of views.
Image credit: ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images
This recording was made using enhanced software.

Summary

AI proliferation

AI-generated disinformation has seen a massive uptick amid the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Israel and Iran.

Millions of views

Analysis shows AI-generated videos promoting Iranian propaganda have been seen tens of millions of times.

AI normalization

Government officials, such as Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have normalized AI by sharing doctored content online.

Full story

Pro-Iran imagery generated by artificial intelligence is proliferating on social media, generating tens of millions of views. The content has seen an uptick in the wake of Israeli and U.S. attacks on the country.

The proliferation of AI-generated photos and videos is blurring the line between fiction and reality, as more people rely on social media sites such as X, Facebook and TikTok for breaking news updates on stories like the war in Iran.

Fake video of Israeli destruction

A video posted to X on June 14, for example, appears to show widespread destruction in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, supposedly caused by Iranian missiles. The post has been viewed more than 1.9 million times.

A disclaimer later added to the post revealed that the footage had been posted on TikTok on May 27 – days before Iran’s retaliatory strikes against Israel – by an account calling  itself “Artificial Intelligence Resistance.” 


Another AI-produced video on X showed Iranian ballistic missiles being transported out of a mountainside complex. Even though the account sharing the footage labeled itself as a “parody,” the clip amassed more than 2.1 million views.

The post was eventually hit with an AI disclaimer. However, some X users appeared convinced that the footage was legitimate after X’s AI chatbot, Grok deemed it real, the BBC reported.

On June 18, an image purporting to show a downed B-2 bomber, the aircraft used in U.S. airstrikes against Iran, racked up more than 900,000 views on X. The photo, which included an Iranian flag and soldiers next to the damaged plane, was eventually labeled as AI.

Government propaganda

The proliferation of computer-generated content, even when obviously AI, has been normalized by government officials as well.

On June 16, three days after Israel attacked his country, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shared an AI image of missiles being fired from the country alongside verses from the Quran. An Israeli official shared AI-generated propaganda as well, showcasing an image of Khamenei inside a broken egg.

In total, the three most viral AI propaganda videos, according to the BBC, racked up a collective total of more than 100 million views across multiple platforms. One prolific account on X, known as Daily Iran Military, saw its followers double from about 700,000 to 1.4 million in just six days after it released a series of AI videos.

Emmanuelle Saliba, chief investigative officer with the analyst group Get Real, told the BBC that the flood of computer-generated disinformation marks “the first time we’ve seen generative AI be used at scale during a conflict.”

Alan Judd (Content Editor ), Lea Mercado (Digital Production Manager), and Mathew Grisham (Digital Producer) contributed to this report.
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Why this story matters

The rapid proliferation of AI-generated content and misinformation during the Israel-Iran conflict is creating widespread confusion about the reality of events, highlighting urgent questions about media literacy, trust, and the ability to verify information in times of crisis.

AI-generated misinformation

The widespread sharing of fabricated images and videos, often made using artificial intelligence tools, is misleading audiences about what is actually happening in the conflict, as extensively documented by BBC Verify and other sources.

Media and platform responsibility

As noted by experts cited in AFP and other outlets, the challenge of detecting and stopping the spread of digital disinformation has grown, especially as content moderation and fact-checking resources on social networks have been reduced, placing more responsibility on platforms to safeguard public discourse.

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Community reaction

Local communities, particularly in Iran and Israel, are deeply affected by the information chaos. As cited by AFP and NewsGuard, ordinary Iranians are described as “trapped in a sealed information environment” dominated by state media, while both Israeli and Iranian social users are inundated with viral content, heightening anxiety and mistrust.

Context corner

The use of disinformation during conflicts is not new; historically, states have used propaganda, rumors and doctored images to influence perceptions. What has changed in this conflict is the accessibility and realism of generative AI tools, allowing even individuals to produce convincing synthetic media at scale. This technological shift accelerates both the creation and spread of propaganda.

Sources

  1. The BBC
  2. Ayatollah Khamenei via X

Bias comparison

  • Media outlets on the left underscore the ethical crisis wrought by AI-driven misinformation in the Israel-Iran conflict, framing the digital fog as "collateral damage" to truth and highlighting the manipulation of ordinary Iranians "trapped in a sealed information environment."
  • Not enough unique coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
  • Media outlets on the right deploy emotive language like "smear campaigns," "pixel-perfect lies," and describe Iran’s propaganda efforts — including Lego-themed videos — as a sophisticated anti-Israel assault, emphasizing Israel’s defensive legitimacy and condemning mainstream media “baseless slander.”

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Media landscape

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110 total sources

Key points from the Left

  • AI deepfakes and manipulated videos are spreading misinformation about the Israel-Iran conflict across social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
  • Disinformation watchdog NewsGuard found 51 websites promoting false claims about the conflict, including exaggerated destruction reports and Iran capturing Israeli pilots.
  • Experts, including Ken Jon Miyachi, are urging stronger detection tools and media literacy amid rising misinformation that undermines trust in digital content.
  • Researchers note that Iranian citizens are heavily targeted by misinformation, leading to confusion and mistrust due to dominant state media narratives.

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Key points from the Center

  • A video falsely claiming that Iranian missiles targeted Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport actually shows footage from Haifa, a northern city that was struck on June 15.
  • This misinformation emerged amid escalating Iran-Israel conflict starting June 13, with Israel targeting Iran's nuclear sites and missile exchanges affecting regional airspace closures.
  • Multiple outlets, including PressTV, shared outdated or miscaptioned visuals such as old Russian missile launches and drone images, fueling distorted narratives and AI-generated fakery.
  • Experts like Ken Jon Miyachi and Hany Farid highlight a surge in AI-enabled misinformation, noting a digital crisis undermining trust and confusing ordinary audiences, especially in Iran’s sealed media environment.

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Key points from the Right

  • Iranian state media released a video showing Lego characters launching missile strikes on Israel, portraying anti-Western propaganda.
  • The clip was published by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, featuring characters like Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu.
  • An Israeli government account shared a video of Lego Mossad agents attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities.

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Sources

  1. The BBC
  2. Ayatollah Khamenei via X