Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines A statement was issued Iranian foreign tycoons confirmed on Tuesday that they are not only encouraging ongoing anti-Israel protests in the United States, but also providing financial support to keep them going.
Protests against Israel and the United States have been ongoing since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Various groups were behind the campus camps and street protests that took place in the months that followed, some of which turned violent, including organized protests that culminated in an attack on the White House.
“In recent weeks, Iranian officials have opportunistically sought to exploit ongoing protests regarding the war in Gaza.”
“As I noted in my congressional testimony in May, Iran has increasingly engaged in foreign influence efforts that seek to sow discord and undermine confidence in our nation’s democratic institutions, as they have done in the past, including in this past election cycle,” Haines explained.
“They continue to adapt their cyber and influence operations, using social media platforms to issue threats, and will continue to rely on intelligence services and Iran-based online influencers in these operations to spread their message,” she continued. “In recent weeks, Iranian government actors have sought to exploit ongoing protests related to the Gaza war using tactics long used by others. We have seen Iranian government-linked actors posing as activists online, attempting to encourage protests and even providing financial support to protesters.”
“The Americans who are protesting are expressing their views on the Gaza conflict in good faith and this information does not indicate that they are not,” Haines added, but said they may not be aware of how they are being used by the Iranian regime.
The protests won’t end with the summer: Anti-Israel protests are planned for the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, as well as on July 24, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address Congress. Several groups have called for buses to transport people to Washington, DC, that day and to surround the Capitol building.
Do you like Blaze News? Bypass censorship and subscribe to our newsletter to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up here!
