Iran stoking Gaza war protests, says U.S. intelligence director

Online users linked to the Iranian government posed as activists online to encourage and fund protesters in the United States, National Intelligence Director Avril Haines said Tuesday. Iranian actors sought to stoke discord and undermine confidence in America’s democratic institutions with tactics used in past election cycles, according to her released statement. Haines did not detail how many protests were backed by Iranian cash or how the funding was dispersed. She said she knows people in the U.S. who protested in good faith to express their views. But many Americans may not know they were targeted by an Iranian campaign or be aware they were interacting with or receiving support from a foreign government, she added. Intelligence officials urge Americans to stay vigilant while engaging with online accounts.

Has the White House acknowledged the problem? Iran is seeking to take advantage of protests, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed during her Tuesday briefing. While many Americans who protested expressed their own views, the government must warn citizens of malicious foreign influence, she added. Foreign meddling in American politics is unacceptable and will continually be exposed, she said.

Dig deeper: Read my report on Iran electing the more moderate of two candidates for its president.