Iran's AI propaganda videos reach hundreds of millions through Lego-style clips
Iran is using AI-generated videos styled like Lego animations to spread pro-regime propaganda to Western audiences, with estimates suggesting the content has been viewed hundreds of millions of times. The videos feature stylized depictions of dying children, fighter jets, and US President Donald Trump alongside conspiracy theories and factual inaccuracies designed to portray Iran as resisting American oppression.
A representative of Explosive Media, the production company behind the clips, confirmed for the first time in a public interview that the Iranian government is a "customer" of his operation. He had previously denied any connection to state authorities.
How the videos work
The clips use bright, recognizable Lego-style graphics because, as the producer said, it is "a world language." Iranian and Russian state media accounts on X share them to millions of followers. Explosive Media consists of fewer than ten people.
One video shows Donald Trump surrounded by "Epstein file" documents with rap lyrics about "secrets leaking." Another depicts George Floyd under a policeman's boot while claiming Iran "stands here for everyone your system ever wronged." A third shows an Iranian military figure capturing a US fighter-jet pilot-a scenario US officials have already debunked.
When asked about factual errors, the Explosive Media representative dismissed them. He claimed the downed airman rescued by US special forces on April 4 may not have existed, suggesting instead that the operation aimed to "steal uranium from Iran."
Effectiveness and reach
The videos have successfully influenced Western audiences. A US-based TikTok influencer with significant followers shared one of the clips, telling her audience it had "broken the story" about the pilot rescue being a uranium theft operation rather than a rescue.
Propaganda expert Dr Emma Briant said the content is "highly sophisticated" and that calling it propaganda is too weak a characterization. AI has enabled Iran to communicate directly with Western audiences in culturally appropriate ways-something authoritarian countries previously lacked.
The videos are produced in real time, sometimes appearing before official announcements. Recent clips show specific Gulf locations including power stations and airports allegedly destroyed by Iranian missiles, though most have sustained only limited damage in reality.
The broader context
Explosive Media videos began appearing in early 2025 and grew rapidly following the US-Iran war that started in February. The producer defended his work as "honourable to work for the homeland," dismissing recent mass protests in Iran as a "coup" funded by the US.
When presented with allegations that the videos use antisemitic imagery, he rejected the characterization, saying they are "anti-Zionist" rather than antisemitic and that depictions of violence highlight "atrocities."
Most Iranians cannot access the internet due to a nationwide shutdown. The producer said he could contact journalists using "journalist internet" granted by the Iranian government. Iran ranks among the world's most repressive countries for press freedom.
What experts say
Cyber warfare expert Dr Tine Munk characterizes Iran's tactics as "defensive memetic warfare" that blurs understanding of what is actually happening while increasing the risk of misinterpretation and escalation. Social media platforms have shut down accounts sharing the videos, but new ones appear quickly.
This represents a form of agile, aggressive internet diplomacy that cuts out traditional media and press entirely. Traditional diplomatic channels no longer apply, leaving what Munk describes as "a kind of limbo."
For government officials, understanding generative video technology and its use in information operations is becoming essential. The tactics Iran employs-rapid production, cultural adaptation, and platform agility-represent capabilities that other state actors are likely developing or already deploying.
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