Pro-Iran groups are actively leveraging artificial intelligence to produce sophisticated internet memes in English, aiming to shape the narrative during ongoing conflicts with the U.S. and Israel. These digital campaigns are part of a broader strategy by groups linked to the government in Tehran, designed to inflict damage on the U.S. indirectly, by fostering opposition to the conflict. This propaganda effort is considered crucial for Iran, as its goal is to sow sufficient discontent within the West to eventually compel them to yield, as stated by AI researcher Neil Lavie-Driver.

The use of memes in conflict is not new, but recent years have seen an evolution with the inclusion of AI imagery. Following the 2022 Russian invasion, Ukrainians were bombarded with AI imagery, and the term "AI slop" emerged last year to describe the influx of imperfect images online during the Israel-Iran war. In the conflict that commenced on February 28 with joint U.S.-Israel strikes, the pro-Iran memes have featured expertly crafted cartoons that harshly criticize U.S. officials.

These memes demonstrate a deep understanding not only of the English language but also of American culture and trolling tactics. Published across various social platforms, they have garnered millions of views, though their precise influence remains unclear. They have depicted U.S. President Donald Trump as aged, out of touch, and internationally isolated, referencing controversies such as bruising on his hand, infighting within his MAGA base, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s contentious confirmation hearing. Scholar Nancy Snow notes that these groups are effectively using popular culture against the United States, which is considered the number one pop culture country.

Illustrative examples of these pro-Iran images include a series styled after the "Lego" animated movies. In one particular meme, an Iranian military commander raps, "You thought you ran the globe, sitting on your throne. Now we turning every base into a bed of stone," as Trump is depicted falling into a bullseye constructed from "Epstein files"—referring to investigative records concerning disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Analysts, such as Mahsa Alimardani from WITNESS, a human rights group focusing on AI video evidence, believe the sophistication and internet access required to produce these animations suggest cooperation with government offices. Given Iran's severe restrictions on internet access, particularly after crackdowns on nationwide protests, the ability to generate and upload such content indicates official or unofficial links to the regime. State media outlets have also reposted some of these memes, including those from the account Akhbar Enfejari (Explosive News), which produces the "Lego"-style videos. Akhbar Enfejari identifies itself as an Iranian group working from within Iran to challenge what it perceives as decades of Western dominance over media narratives, claiming to have "disrupted the game" and improved upon previous efforts.

Following the announcement of a ceasefire, Akhbar Enfejari notably posted, "IRAN WON! The way to crush imperialism has been shown to the world. Trump Surrendered." Additionally, official Iranian government accounts have engaged in trolling against the U.S., such as a post from Iran’s Embassy in South Africa displaying the Iranian flag with the caption, "Say hello to the new world superpower." Both the U.S. and Iran, however, declared victory after reaching the ceasefire agreement.

Experts attribute this profound grasp of U.S. politics and culture to more traditional methods of propaganda: a long-standing Iranian government program dedicated to promoting anti-U.S. and anti-Israel narratives. Alimardani emphasizes that this "meme war" originates from institutions deeply aware of American public sentiment and relevant pop cultural references that resonate with them.

In contrast, the U.S. and Israel do not appear to be conducting a similar meme-based campaign, partly because Iran's internet restrictions would make it challenging to deliver such messages to ordinary Iranians. Early in the conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released an AI-generated video in Farsi, urging Iranians to overthrow their government. The White House, meanwhile, publishes a steady stream of memes, but these are primarily directed at a U.S. audience and feature clips from American TV shows and sports. The U.S. government-run Voice of America, historically a source of news for countries lacking a free press, still broadcasts in Farsi, albeit with a reduced staff since a previous order to shut it down. Nancy Snow suggests that this dynamic reflects a rapidly changing world order where the U.S. may no longer be the universally heard state.