Iran"s influence on campus protests: a revealing struggle

In July, the White House warned that Iran was attempting to exploit protests related to Gaza in the U.S., highlighting the aggressive nature of Iran's foreign influence campaigns. The Director of National Intelligence noted initiatives aimed at inciting American citizens, with Iranian officials and media trying to sway international opinion against Israel. High-ranking clerics in Iran have even referred to recent protests on U.S. campuses as an extension of the Islamic Revolution. Despite these efforts, the actual impact of Iran's influence on public discourse regarding Palestine-Israel politics appears limited. The Islamic Republic's attempts to take credit for movements aligned with its interests often do not resonate outside of Iran. However, these tactics are crucial for understanding how foreign influence campaigns target youth in the U.S. and how they contribute to domestic propaganda within Iran. One notable campaign was the “Letters from Leader,” where Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei addressed Western youth in 2015 and 2024, responding to anti-Muslim sentiment and the Palestine-Israel conflict, respectively. Despite systematic promotion on social media, these letters garnered little attention outside Iran, indicating a disconnect between Iranian narratives and international audiences. Additionally, Iran has intensified its cyber-enabled influence operations, particularly following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. These operations aim to destabilize, retaliate, intimidate, and undermine international support for Israel, showcasing Iran's commitment to leveraging both online and offline strategies to further its agenda.