Since the launch of Operation Epic Fury 90 days ago, analysts and officials have raised concerns about the Iranian regime’s influence efforts targeting Western media and public opinion. Tehran appears to be leveraging various channels to shape narratives in the United States and beyond, focusing on undermining American support for ongoing military actions.

According to observers, many major U.S. news outlets—excluding a few such as Fox News and certain regional publications—are frequently echoing talking points originating from Iranian state media, including Press TV and the Tehran Times. These narratives often emphasize themes that portray the U.S. as “losing” the conflict, criticize the administration’s strategic planning, and frame recent strikes as failures. Additionally, the rise in gasoline prices is frequently cited as evidence that the war is a mistake, while blaming Israel for involving the U.S. in a foreign conflict. Some reporting has suggested that the Iranian regime is unlikely to be ousted and that negotiation may be the only viable path forward.

The U.S. president has publicly accused major news organizations—such as The New York Times and CNN—of disseminating these Iranian-inspired narratives, describing the coverage as part of an orchestrated misinformation campaign. He suggested that, regardless of actual battlefield outcomes, some media outlets would depict any Iranian concession as a U.S. defeat.

Research institutions have documented sophisticated Iranian influence operations. The Soufan Center highlighted how the regime uses viral social media content, AI-generated battlefield imagery, and coordinated online troll accounts to shape public discourse. A study by Clemson University identified a network associated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) comprising at least 62 social media accounts impersonating Americans and Britons to spread regime-aligned narratives domestically.

Beyond information campaigns, intelligence reports and university officials have linked Iranian actors to funding and organizing domestic protests supporting Hamas and Hezbollah, which have occurred since October 2023. In July 2024, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence confirmed Iranian involvement in online activism aimed at promoting unrest, with one academic leader attributing campus demonstrations to Tehran’s influence.

Symbols such as Hezbollah flags on university campuses, Hamas apparel at public protests, and anti-American chants near political landmarks have been cited as manifestations of this broader strategy. Experts contend that Iran’s regime, unable to match U.S. military strength, is instead focusing on shaping American public opinion and furthering its objectives through information and social influence warfare.

Critics of Western media coverage argue that focusing heavily on topics like rising fuel prices while downplaying military successes and setbacks contributes to a climate of war-weariness unfavorable to American policy goals. They warn that presenting the IRGC—a group responsible for attacks against U.S. personnel and allied forces—as a legitimate counterpart in discourse risks normalizing decades of hostility.

Calls for comprehensive, balanced journalism emphasize the need to report not only on challenges and civilian impacts but also on progress made against Iranian-backed forces. Observers maintain that while Tehran invests significantly in international influence activities, some segments of the American media may be unwittingly advancing its narrative without direct coordination, thereby complicating the information landscape surrounding the conflict.