Social media platforms are being flooded with highly sophisticated deepfake content as artificial intelligence arises as the latest weapon in cyber war between Iran and Israel. Users of TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are being subjected to an avalanche of AI-generated images and videos that are designed to spread pro-Iranian narratives and disinform public worldwide.
The tide of fabricated news began to rise after open military confrontations between the US and Russia escalated in June 2025. The reason why the propaganda is so disturbing is that the fake content appears so authentic because of advanced AI technology that can transform normal street scenes into apocalyptic war scenes or create entirely fictional military victories.
The New Face of Digital Manipulation with AI
TikTok has become the hub of this war of information. With its enormous international reach and teen popularity, the platform is the perfect breeding ground of viral disinformation. The app’s algorithm, which favors emotionally evocative and visually engaging content, accelerates these doctored videos at light speed.
Pro-Iranian channels are not targeting only Arabic or Persian speakers. They’re creating content in English, Hebrew, and many Asian languages, casting a broad net to shape public opinion across various regions and communities.
Five Ways AI Is Being Weaponized
Security experts have found some trends in the way AI is being utilized to create propaganda:
- Deceptive scenes of destruction start with AI transforming peaceful Israeli streets into post-apocalyptic ones. One very viral video compared a “before and after” of an Israeli neighborhood in a fake presentation of widespread bombing damage.
- Targeting national symbols is another tactic of significance. Fake videos of damaged Israeli infrastructure, including Ben Gurion Airport and EL AL aircraft, aim to undermine public trust and exaggerate Iranian military capabilities.
- Leader idolatry videos employ AI to produce content glorifying Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and ridiculing Israeli and American officials, frequently depicting symbolic domination situations.
- Military victory deceptions involve AI-generated missile strikes and faked video of downed Israeli fighter jets, used to boost the perceived victory for Iranian operations.
- Multilingual propaganda ensures the propaganda reaches international audiences, building anti-Israel sentiments and regional unity in favour of Iran’s position.
The Viral Problem of AI
The figures are mind-boggling. BBC Verify has told us that three of the most-viewed propaganda clips got more than 100 million views across all platforms. Some propaganda handles, such as “Daily Iran Military,” doubled their audience within a week when their AI-created content went viral.
This is not solely a matter of state-sponsored propaganda. Independent content creators are getting in on the action, driven by the profits that platforms pay for high-engagement content. When manipulative videos become virals, creators are compensated, setting up a toxic incentive structure that rewards more disinformation.
Both Sides Playing the Game
The propaganda war is two-way. The pro-Israeli media have also been proven to spread disinformation, such as rehashed protest footage in Iran as fresh anti-government protests. Even official sources on both sides have printed false or out-of-date information to justify their sides.
This develops a disorganized information environment within which even journalists and fact-checkers are unable to deal with the unending flow of misinformation.
What This Means for Everyone
The deluge of AI-produced propaganda represents a sea change in the character of information warfare. Social media consumers worldwide are being increasingly subjected to messages that look completely authentic but are totally synthetic. The technology has progressed so far that it is almost impossible to distinguish between reality and fantasy without technical equipment and tools.
With the Israel-Iran war intensifying day by day, the war of public opinion on the web is also intensifying in tandem with the battlefield. This has posed some very fundamental questions regarding the role of social media platforms, whether the current content moderation mechanisms are adequate, and how ordinary users can protect themselves from manipulation.
The era of AI-driven disinformation has begun, and it is revolutionizing the game for all players in global battles. The test now is how to survive in this new world without losing our capacity for distinguishing between truth and high-tech fantasy.
