Unveiled: Iran’s Covert Network of Disinformation Websites Exposed

Researchers from the American Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) have uncovered a network of 19 websites linked to Iran, which present themselves as independent sources of opinion and analysis for an international audience. While some experts had previously connected a few such sites to Iran, FDD is the first to identify the majority of them, documenting technical indicators that confirm their interconnection.

Recently, Microsoft and OpenAI exposed five websites as part of an Iranian influence operation, as later reported by The New York Times. However, FDD’s data reveals this to be only a fragment of a larger global campaign targeting users in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, the Caucasus, and South America.

Two of these sites focus on American audiences, publishing material related to U.S. elections. Afro Majority caters to African Americans, criticizing former President Donald Trump and supporting current Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as the Black Lives Matter movement. Meanwhile, Not Our War targets U.S. veterans, promoting ideas about the illegitimacy of American democracy and criticizing both Trump and Biden.

These platforms regularly disseminate pro-Iranian content. For instance, after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei endorsed anti-Israel protests at universities, Afro Majority referred to his statement as a “profound act of empathy.” Not Our War, on the other hand, propagated a conspiracy theory suggesting that the U.S. is allegedly developing weather-controlling weapons to weaken Iran.

The remaining websites also actively promote Iran’s interests, criticizing the U.S., Israel, and Saudi Arabia, while supporting organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas. One site, Herald Alba, advocates for Scottish independence—a theme Iran has previously focused on in its operations. The only site not publishing political content is People of Persia, which is dedicated to celebrating Persian history and cultural heritage.

Technical details indicate that all 19 websites are interconnected: they share the same servers, exhibit similar patterns in email addresses, and feature identical errors in links to non-existent social media pages. FDD plans to thoroughly analyze these sites in its forthcoming report.

Researchers urge the international community and the U.S. to take action in dismantling this Iranian influence network and holding accountable those responsible in Iran.