The Trump Administration has accused CNN of supporting the Islamic State regime in Iran through its reporting. Similar accusations have been made against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. In the UK, Channel 4 has been criticised for not challenging pro-Iranian regime rhetoric.
Is this part of a propaganda campaign launched by the Iranian regime targeting Western audiences?
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Iranian state media and its international allies have consistently framed protests in Iran as foreign-backed “riots” to delegitimise dissent. Anti-Jewish rhetoric plays a significant role in the Islamic State’s propaganda, particularly in the West.
A report published by the Institute of Strategic Dialogue (“ISD”) at the end of February summarised the responses to the Iranian protests by state and non-state supporters of the regime between 28 December 2025 and 17 January 2026.
It describes how Iranian state-linked accounts, including Press TV and official government channels, accused the US and Israel of instigating unrest in Iran, while downplaying or ignoring civilian casualties. These narratives were amplified by Iran’s regional proxies – such as Kata’ib Hezbollah, Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis – as well as Russia and China.
Some of the key findings of IDS’ report were:
Iranian state messengers framed protests as “riots” instigated by the US and Israeli agents. They also accused the US of hypocrisy over fatal shootings at domestic protests and human rights violations in Gaza.
Western far-right pro-regime accounts blamed Israel for the violence. Content often included antisemitic tropes such as claims that Israel was covertly manipulating the US into the conflict.
Western far-left pro-regime accounts usually blamed either Israel or the US. Accounts which centred Israel’s role often drew on antisemitic narratives, while those which centred the US drew more on ‘anti-imperialist’ narratives.
Axis of amplification: Regime media, proxies and Western supporters respond to Iranian protests, Institute of Strategic Dialogue, 27 February 2026
IDS’ report concludes: “The Iranian regime pursued a twofold response to the nationwide protests that broke out in December last year: stalling the free flow of information, both within, and in and out of the country through significant Internet restrictions, and manipulating the online discourse surrounding the protests, mostly by re-characterising them as ‘foreign-backed riots’ … State messaging aimed to undermine and deflect international criticism (and critics) of extreme repression likely amounting to crimes against humanity, which was amplified by Russia, regional proxy groups and Western extremists and conspiracy theorists.”
An article in The Conversation states that, at the same time as creating an internet blackout for Iranians, the Iranian regime has launched a propaganda campaign to target Western audiences online about the current conflict:
Iranian civilians might be disconnected from the global internet. But Iranian officials and their key supporters remain actively engaged on foreign online platforms.
In fact, senior government figures have sought to launch an information operation on X. This operation seeks to influence international public opinion and pressure the White House to end the war.
A key effort is to target segments of Trump’s political base associated with the America First movement.
Iran’s regime has shut down the internet in the middle of war – placing civilians in the crosshairs, The Conversation, 6 March 2026
In contrast, independent journalists and media organisations, particularly those in exile, have reported under extreme conditions, facing digital blackouts, cyberattacks and threats to their families. Despite the regime’s efforts to control the information environment, exiled media outlets continue to provide critical reporting, though access remains severely limited.
Related: War in Iran: journalism in crisis as access to information restricted and reporters work amid bombs, Reporters Without Borders
Social media is not the only media that the Iranian regime and its proxies are using to target Western populations.
Yesterday, a Trump administration official, Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson, labelled a CNN report from Iran as “straight up pro-Iran regime propaganda,” claiming the network was aiding the Iranian government.
Frederik Pleitgen, CNN’s senior international correspondent, is reporting from Iran after being granted a visa by the Iranian government, marking the first time a US network has entered the country since the US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran in late February 2026.
His on-the-ground reports, including footage of open shops, available fuel and lack of visible panic, have sparked controversy. Johnson criticised Pleitgen’s reporting on Twitter (now X), calling it “straight up pro-Iran regime propaganda because someone gave this guy a coffee.”
Critics, including Honest Reporting, argue that Pleitgen’s coverage lacks balance, citing interviews that appear to reflect only regime-approved sentiments and omitting dissenting voices. Honest Reporting suggests the Iranian government controls access and likely guides the reporting, raising concerns about the authenticity of the on-the-ground portrayal.
It’s not only CNN that is coming under fire for suspicions of airing Islamic State-approved reports. Australia’s ABC is also being accused of the same.
Yesterday, Sky News Australia Digital Editor Jack Houghton blasted the media that are siding with the “terrorist theocracy” of Iran over the “very vulnerable” and oppressed Iranians.
John Lyons, America’s Editor at ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), labelled support for the Iranian people as propaganda. Lyons said support for the Iranian people was really propaganda to support the US-Israeli strikes on the Iranian regime.
“You pay for his opinion commentary to be dressed up as news,” Houghton said. “And the ABC defended it, arguing that their employee was actually an expert. So, he didn’t really need to be impartial.”
“This triggered a rare moment of unity across the political spectrum when Lyons was savaged for being out of touch and for ignoring the plight of women beaten in the streets, and the tens of thousands of protestors slaughtered for simply standing up to the radical Muslim regime.”
Notably, as reported by the Daily Wire, some Western feminist groups are campaigning to oppose US-Israel military actions against Iran. This “feminist” stance supports not only a murderous regime but also an Islamic regime responsible for the widespread suppression of human rights, including women’s rights.
The UK corporate media is not much better than that in Australia.
While Channel 4 is mildly critical of Iran’s government and highlights internal dissent, human rights abuses and geopolitical tensions, it has drawn criticism for platforming voices sympathetic to Iran without sufficient challenge. An example of this is an interview aired on 28 February 2026, between Channel 4 presenter Cathy Newman and former British ambassador to Tehran, Richard Dalton.
During the interview, Dalton made several spurious claims: that there is “no evidence of an Iranian nuclear programme,” that the US attack on Iran was a “massacre” and he denied Iran’s genocidal rhetoric toward Israel. Before conducting the interview, Newman would have known Dalton’s anti-Zionist bias. In a July 2025 interview with Declassified UK, for example, Dalton said that the US and Israel pose a greater regional threat than Iran.
Critics, including CAMERA and The Spectator, have accused Newman of failing to challenge Dalton’s assertions.
“Sadly for Channel 4 News viewers, Cathy Newman not only failed to cross-examine or shame Dalton like she tried to do with Jordan Peterson, but treated him with kid gloves, thereby legitimising the former ambassador’s diatribe about the West that was akin to what you’d expect to hear on Iran’s Press TV,” CAMERA said.
In January, William Atkinson wrote in The Spectator about Dalton and other figures in the UK who have been shilling for the Iranian regime. In 1979, Roger Cooper wrote an article for The Spectator. In it, he suggested that Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the first Supreme Leader of Iran, offered Iranians “the chance to resume their true national and cultural identity.”
Khomeini’s rule was marked by strict theocratic governance, vehement anti-Western rhetoric (he called the US “the Great Satan”) and controversial actions.
“Cooper can be forgiven for failing to realise just how miserable the Islamic Republic would be. At the time, western commentators, most prominently Michel Foucault, were falling over themselves to celebrate Khomeini’s ascension,” Atkinson said. “But what cannot be forgiven is those who, for the past four decades, have continued to defend the regime he established, long after its grim reality became apparent.”
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C’m on, Rhoda, you are treating the propaganda of one side as fact!
Cf. https://larrycjohnson.substack.com/p/the-failure-of-us-and-israeli-air?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1225061&post_id=190075544&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=b8prh&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
Not comfortable with this Zionist propaganda.
May I point out that the Institute of Strategic Dialogue (“ISD”), which you portray as a source of unbiased information, is deeply involved in a ‘whole of society approach to counter online antisemitism in Europe’ so it’s stance on Iran comes as no surprise. Furthermore it is funded by the usual suspects including George Soros and Bill Gates and appears to be another one of the globalists ‘fact checking’ and debunking operations. This article can safely be ignored as misinformation. Shame on you Expose, I expect better.
Hi Ian Cross, you are correct. According to Influence Watch, Powerbase and the ISD website:
1. ISD has received grants from the UK Home Office, US Department of State, US Department of Homeland Security, European Commission, German Federal Foreign Office, Public Safety Canada, DFAT (Australia) and other national and international bodies.
2. Major “philanthropic” funders include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Omidyar Network, Open Society Foundations, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, Luminate and Robert Bosch Stiftung.
3. ISD has partnered with Google.org (including the £1M Innovation Fund and Google.org Impact Challenge), Meta, Microsoft and YouTube through initiatives like the Online Civil Courage Initiative and Be Internet Citizens.
4. And, ISD has collaborated with institutions like McGill University, University of British Columbia, The McCain Institute and Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also support specific projects.
Things are seldom black or white, by and large things are shades of grey and in the majority of things there are snippets of truth. So in all things we need to use critical thinking to discern truth from lies. Personally, I have noticed over the years that anti-Jewish rhetoric ebbs and flows in line with events in the Middle East. Years ago, I saw comments that Iran was driving anti-Jewish sentiment online. I tested this by taking note what happened when e.g. Hamas’ control centre was hit in Gaza – anti-Jewish rhetoric dropped suddenly and dramatically, over night (literally). From taking note of events over the years, I have no doubt that Iran is involved in a significant portion of the anti-Jewish rhetoric we see online. All Islamists are anti-Jewish and will e.g. answer Iran’s call to spread anti-Jewish hatred to further their cause. Islamists have infiltrated/influenced/collaborated with the radical/far left in Western countries, and so the two groups are working together – as we have seen in the Marxist “Black Lives Matter” and Islamist “pro-Palestinian” movements.
Another source of anti-Jewish rhetoric is neo-Nazis. The first spate of heightened anti-Jewish sentiment online was when “Russia invaded Ukraine.” I believe this was linked to the neo-Nazi battalions (e.g. Azov Brigade who are openly proud to be Nazis) incorporated into the Ukrainian army.
The question we need to ask is why the establishment has never censored anti-Jewish rhetoric in the same way they have censored covid and climate change sceptics – it’s because of another source of anti-Jewish rhetoric described below.
Another source of the anti-Jewish rhetoric (PsyOp) are the Globalists. The UN has proved itself to be pro-Islamist. You might ask why the Globalists are pro-Islamist? It’s not so much pro-Islamist as using Islam to bring about their new world order. To complete their plan, according to the luciferian cult of those running the show, they need to have Jerusalem under their control. To do this, they need to either displace or annihilate the Jews. Yes, at the very heart of the new world order/one world government plan it is a spiritual battle – and the site of God’s temple in Jerusalem is the crowning glory (literally). The final step in their plan is to crown the “Sangreal Royal” (the “King of the World,” who Christians know as the anti-Christ) in Jerusalem as an act of the ultimate defiling of the site of God’s temple on Earth. You may not believe this is what they plan but they don’t care about what you believe; it’s what they believe that drives them and their plan.
In short, the anti-Jewish rhetoric is a PsyOp that is being perpetuated by several interconnected nefarious groups (radical/far left, Islamist and Globalist activists) – all of them seeking, ultimately, totalitarian technocratic regimes (these groups will eventually turn on each other, vying for supremacy – it’s obvious which one will win the battle). The anti-Jewish rhetoric is a PsyOp they have used before – and one that is easily recognised if one hasn’t already been drawn into it.
UK Home Office, US Department of State, US Department of Homeland Security, European Commission, German Federal Foreign Office, Public Safety Canada, DFAT (Australia).. “philanthropic” funders include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Omidyar Network, Open Society Foundations, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, Luminate and Robert Bosch Stiftung
Pretty good list of the enemies of mankind and progress right there in black and white
The Institute of Strategic Dialogue (“ISD”). Funded by Soros and Gates campaigns strongly against anti semitism. It has much in common with organisations such as Hope not Hate that spread misinformation in order to stifle those whose opinions differ whilst proclaiming to defend democracy and free speech.
excuse me, if you call Iranian gov Regime, then change your language PLEASE in regard to WESTERN authorities, which Iranians call now EPSTEIN REGIME.
After the false flag operation in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria (all on the list of Netanyahu) one should assume that an intelligent person recognises the pattern; The protest and its violence in Iran were organised by the Epstein clan. Attacking during negotiation, Killing the religious leader and 100 ++ children is what they did to Lebanon, Palestine and now Iran.
Hi Bart,
Looks like they targeted the Iranian school on purpose, knowing they were in class at the time.
The number of children murdered, has risen to 175 in that one school.
Nobody will admit to the bombing, they are just total cowards.
Although the Israelis are well documented on phone videos, delighting on killing children.
Why does anyone believe or trust any of the self-anointed parasite class of fuckwits: ie: fact-checkers, media, reporters, experts, academics, politicians, bureaucrats, big-tech, big-pharma, etc. Regard anything you read as lies until proven otherwise. The truth is usually somewhere in the middle of the 2 extremes.
And so you support the propaganda of Zionists and Trump? It is all lies, misinformation, manipulation and bullshit to support their narrative. The FACT is that Bibi ordered Trump in…and he complied! In the end it is the bible-banging Zionist fanatics in Congress that control the USA and have always done so through their lobbyists. While they attend church and pray every sunday, they simultaneously support the murder and genocide of civilians and anyone who opposes them in self-righteous fake outrage.
Yes they do unreservedly. must be for cash like the rest.
I normally enjoy most of The Expose articles, but this one is very disappointing. It smacks of the Rothschild/Rockefeller class (UK) who of course align themselves with Israhell who have been chomping at the bit for YEARS to get their hands on Iran. Netanyahoo is on video salivating over this as far back as the early ’80’s.
Ah a jew hater. Disregard.
An odd take from my comment Rev.
Agree with the comments so far. I was hoping I wasn’t the only one noticing the pro-Zionist creep in the Exposé’s emails. In the pre-amble attempting to escalate division: fuelling blame and hatred to justify conflict, and the support for it, both emotional and financial support, we have to realise that we are being played. The only side to take is the one that leads to genuine de-escalation of conflict, not bloodthirsty aggression pretending to be authorised holy expansion.
Hi Lynn,
How about this from Cyprus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K65x8z-ZY9o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7bJZ1dlNKc
Agreeing with pretty much every comment already made I would like to ask a couple of questions; these are question you need to ask yourself really, Rhoda.
Why is the Iranian state a “regime” ?
And I also saw “Terrorist Iran” in one of the photo captions. Why do you treat your readers like idiots ?
Does Israel have nuclear weapons ?
Does America ? Have they ever used them on a civilian population ?
I think you need to get back to basics here Rhoda; by their fruits shall ye know them, ignore that at your peril. Israel and it’s accomplices are not exempt from the Law because they are “chosen”.
Oh the Israeli side is not conducting any propaganda of course. Iran attacked itself practically!
Yes I was at church and they had an Israeli preacher who started with “we are under attack again”. What?
You attacked them….they are defending themselves.