(BrightPress.org) – Iranian government operatives are posing as activists online to create division in the U.S. before the presidential election. This was revealed by a top American intelligence officer on July 9th.
U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines warned that Iranian actors are exploiting ongoing protests about the Gaza war. These operatives are using tactics seen before, pretending to be activists and even financially supporting protests. This strategy aims to take advantage of anti-Israel protests, which have disturbed universities and threatened Jewish students after Hamas attacked Israeli civilians on October 7th.
Many Americans targeted by this operation may not realize they are interacting with foreign agents. Haines emphasized the need for vigilance when engaging online with unknown accounts. Tehran’s goal is to undermine confidence in U.S. democratic institutions as the election approaches. They are adapting their cyber activities and using social media to spread their narratives, likely relying on their intelligence services and Iran-based online influencers.
The Biden administration and the White House have been discussing the possibility of foreign actors fueling these protests for months. Haines stressed that U.S. citizens protesting against Israel are likely unaware of their foreign backing, acting in good faith on the Gaza conflict. She pointed out that the freedom to express diverse views is essential, but warned of foreign exploitation.
This message is the first of many expected as intelligence experts continue to monitor threats to democracy. The Intelligence Community aims to keep the public informed about foreign efforts to influence democratic processes. This is particularly crucial leading up to the presidential and congressional elections this year.
In a related incident, New York City Mayor Eric Adams also warned about outside agitators during Columbia University’s anti-Israel protests in April. He mentioned that some people aim to aggravate the situation and cause violence. Similarly, Rep. James Comer threatened to subpoena American Muslims for Palestine in June, claiming substantial evidence of their connection to the anti-Israel campus group Students for Justice in Palestine.
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