A new report reveals that Iran-backed bot networks surged during the June war between Israel and Iran, inundating American social media with antisemitic conspiracy theories. Coordinated hundreds of fake accounts pushed narratives accusing a “Jewish lobby” of forcing U.S. involvement and labeling Israel a “terrorist state,” aiming to undermine U.S. support for Israel.
The Diaspora Affairs Ministry study found Iranian operatives controlled a massive bot army on X, generating up to 60% of traffic on key wartime hashtags. These bots, often tweeting in English, shared antisemitic content including conspiracy theories and anti-Israel talking points. Similarly, reports showed at least 100 fraudulent accounts linked to Iran released hundreds of thousands of deceptive posts to sway American public opinion.
This digital offensive reflects a broader Iranian playbook of cyber warfare, amplifying propaganda while maintaining plausible deniability. Experts note Tehran frequently uses hacktivist proxies and bots to wage information warfare, a strategy echoed in previous Russian tactics. During the June escalation, Iran’s bot networks intensified efforts to discourage U.S. involvement by casting Israel as the aggressor.
U.S. and Israeli cybersecurity teams detected and mitigated portions of the campaign, yet many posts succeeded in shaping online sentiment. Analysts warn that such bot armies pose national security risks by polluting information environments at critical moments.
Iran’s use of bot networks to target Americans highlights the growing threat of foreign interference in U.S. public discourse. As geopolitical tensions escalate, defending against such digital influence operations is vital to preserving informed democratic debate.
