The US Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, has issued a statement revealing that Iran is allegedly attempting to incite protests in the United States related to the conflict in Gaza. According to Haines, Iranian operatives are posing as activists online and providing financial support to protesters in an effort to amplify discord within the US.
Despite Iran's historical support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas, US officials believe that Iran is trying to avoid direct conflict with Israel while still seeking to extract costs from both the US and Israel. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to protests across the US, particularly on college campuses, where Americans have expressed concerns over civilian casualties caused by Israel's actions against Hamas.
Haines emphasized that Americans participating in protests are expressing their views in good faith and may not be aware that they are interacting with a foreign government. She urged all Americans to remain vigilant when engaging online with unfamiliar accounts and actors.
US intelligence assessments have indicated that Iran has been increasingly aggressive in its foreign influence efforts, including attempts to meddle in the 2022 midterm elections. Iranian operatives have reportedly used fake, AI-generated content to influence US voters during election campaigns.
While Iran has sought to exploit social divisions and undermine confidence in US democratic institutions, its efforts have been constrained by competing priorities, such as managing internal unrest. The US government has warned the public about Iran's opportunistic behavior in taking advantage of ongoing protests related to the Gaza conflict.
