Clemson Finds IRGC‑Linked Network Pushing Anti‑U.S., Anti‑Israel Propaganda Online

A new Clemson University study identifies at least 62 social media accounts on X, Instagram and Bluesky that researchers say are tied to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and have been pushing coordinated anti‑U.S. and anti‑Israel narratives during the current Iran‑U.S. war. The report says the accounts, some created as early as December 2023 but mostly less than a year old, falsely pose as users from the Americas and the U.K. and systematically amplify divisive political content and disinformation aligned with IRGC talking points. Clemson found that before the February 28 U.S.‑Israeli strikes on Iran, the network mostly focused on polarizing domestic issues, then shifted to overtly pro‑Tehran messaging afterward, often using AI‑generated images and fake videos. Bluesky told Fox News it has removed all accounts flagged in the report for violating its rules, while Meta said the Instagram accounts had minimal reach and reiterated its ban on coordinated inauthentic behavior and terrorism‑linked entities. The researchers warn that even relatively small networks can reach millions through reposts and that vulnerable online communities should be closely monitored for foreign influence operations in times of crisis.