Reza Pahlevi, the deposed crown prince raised up by the desperation of the Iranian people

"An investigation by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, published on October 3, revealed that a private entity funded by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu had carried out a large-scale digital influence campaign to enhance the image of Reza Pahlavi, the crown prince of the overthrown dynasty of the same name that of his father, the last shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, whose removal led to the proclamation of the Islamic Republic in February 1979."

"The campaign not only boosted the image of the prince who for years frequented gossip magazines more than the corridors of power but also falsely amplified his support in Iran through avatars, fake online profiles posing as Iranian citizens. When the Iranian regime completely shut down internet access last Thursday to conceal its crackdown on the protests, many users posing as Iranians within the country continued to spread messages in support of Pahlavi."

"These suspicious messages echoed one certain fact and one dubious one. The first is that, in some of the demonstrations, alongside shouts of Death to the dictator (Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei), slogans such as Long live the shah or Pahlevi will return were chanted. The dubious point is that the Iranians who took to the streets last Thursday in greater numbers than in previous days to protest were responding to a call the prince had made hours earlier to his compatriots to continue demonstrating."

A private entity funded by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu carried out a large-scale digital influence campaign to enhance the image of Reza Pahlavi. The operation boosted the prince’s profile and amplified apparent support in Iran by using avatars and fake online profiles posing as Iranian citizens. During an Iranian internet blackout imposed amid protests, many accounts posing as Iranians continued to post messages supporting Pahlavi. Pro-monarchy slogans and flags appeared at some demonstrations alongside anti-regime chants, and some protesters reportedly responded to a call from the prince to continue demonstrating.

Read at english.elpais.com