"An A.I. video recently released by supporters of the Iranian government begins with a robed Shiite Muslim warrior approaching the White House on a stormy night, clutching an ornate split-bladed sword. The narrator says in English, addressing the U.S., 'You can't kill people who are ready to die for their cause.'"
"The Shia are prepared to be martyrs in the cause of their faith. It is the Islamic Republic of Iran that they are defending—not just their land, not just their culture, not just their history, but their faith."
"As the Trump Administration prepares for a possible ground invasion of Iran, the Iranian regime and its loyalists are waging a propaganda war, using motifs of religion, self-sacrifice, and glory, through dozens of videos that are circulating on social media."
As tensions rise over the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is drawing on experiences from the Iran-Iraq War to brace for U.S. escalation. Propaganda videos depict Shiite warriors and martyrdom, aiming to rally support among Shiite Muslims. These videos, circulating on social media, blend modern technology with traditional religious themes. The Iranian regime seeks to influence both domestic and global perceptions, countering U.S. narratives as the Trump Administration considers military options. The messaging emphasizes sacrifice and faith, portraying the conflict as a defense of the Islamic Republic.
Read at The New Yorker
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