Iran has been accused of covertly fueling protests in the United States related to the conflict in Gaza, according to US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. Haines stated that Iran posed as activists online and provided financial support to protesters in an effort to influence the ongoing demonstrations. Despite this, Haines emphasized that Americans participating in the protests are expressing their views in good faith and may not be aware of interacting with a foreign government.
US officials believe that Iran is trying to avoid a prolonged direct conflict with Israel while still trying to exact costs from both the United States and Israel. The conflict in Gaza has sparked protests in the US, particularly on college campuses, where Americans have expressed concern over civilian casualties caused by Israeli actions against Hamas. These protests have been divisive and easily exploited by foreign actors like Iran to amplify discord within the US.
Haines and other US officials have publicly warned about Iran’s increasing aggressiveness in its foreign influence efforts. In recent weeks, Iranian government actors have been opportunistic in taking advantage of the ongoing protests related to the Gaza conflict. An intelligence assessment released in December also indicated that Iran had sought to interfere in the 2022 midterm elections, aiming to exploit societal divisions and undermine trust in American democratic institutions, although their efforts were limited by competing priorities.
Additionally, agents working for the Iranian government had previously created fake AI-generated content as part of a campaign to influence American voters during the final weeks of the 2020 election. Overall, Iran’s actions in fueling protests in the US related to the conflict in Gaza are seen as part of a broader strategy to advance their interests and amplify divisions within American society.
In conclusion, Iran’s involvement in covertly fueling protests in the United States related to the conflict in Gaza has raised concerns among US officials, who warn about the increasing aggressiveness of Iran’s foreign influence efforts. By posing as activists online and providing financial support to protesters, Iran seeks to exploit existing divisions in American society and influence public opinion on international conflicts. Moving forward, vigilance and awareness of foreign influence operations remain crucial in safeguarding democratic processes and national security.
Article Source
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/07/09/politics/haines-iran-gaza-protests
