Iran covertly stoking US protests over Gaza conflict, intelligence chief says

US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines has said that Iran is attempting to covertly incite protests in the US related to the conflict in Gaza by posing as activists online and, in some cases, providing financial support to protesters.

Haines emphasised that the intelligence does not question the sincerity of Americans participating in the protests, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

"I want to be clear that I know Americans who participate in protests are, in good faith, expressing their views on the conflict in Gaza — this intelligence does not indicate otherwise," she said.

However, she warned that Americans might be unaware of their interactions with or support from a foreign government.

"Americans who are being targeted by this Iranian campaign may not be aware that they are interacting with or receiving support from a foreign government,” Haines stated. “We urge all Americans to remain vigilant as they engage online with accounts and actors they do not personally know.”

Despite its past support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Iran has reportedly sought to avoid a prolonged direct conflict with Israel, while continuing efforts to impose costs on the US and Israel.

The conflict in Gaza, which erupted after Hamas' attack on southern Israel on October 7, has sparked widespread protests across the United States, particularly on college campuses. These protests, driven by the scale of civilian casualties in Gaza, have been highly divisive domestically, making them a target for foreign actors like Iran interested in amplifying discord within the US.

US officials, including Haines, have publicly warned about Iran's "increasingly aggressive" foreign influence efforts. "In recent weeks, Iranian government actors have sought to opportunistically take advantage of ongoing protests regarding the war in Gaza," Haines said.

Iran's covert influence operations underscore the complexity of modern geopolitical challenges, where state actors utilize sophisticated tactics to advance their strategic interests abroad. The ongoing efforts by Iran highlight the need for robust cybersecurity measures, public awareness campaigns, and international cooperation to mitigate the impact of foreign interference in democratic societies like the United States.