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Viral AI clips mimic Lego aesthetic to spread pro-Iran narratives
Bright, fast-paced videos featuring dying children, fighter jets, and Donald Trump are being used as propaganda tools by Iran, reaching hundreds of millions of viewers amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict. The clips, produced by accounts like Explosive Media, employ a Lego-like visual style to amplify anti-American messaging.
Inside Explosive Media: A propaganda operation with ties to Tehran
In an interview with the BBC's Top Comment podcast, a representative of Explosive Media-who requested anonymity under the alias "Mr. Explosive"-initially denied direct links to the Iranian government. However, he later acknowledged that Tehran is a "customer" of his company, a revelation he had not previously confirmed publicly.
Mr. Explosive, appearing in a video call flanked by red and green lighting-colors of the Iranian flag-said his team of fewer than ten people uses Lego-style graphics because they serve as a "world language." The clips are regularly shared by Iranian and Russian state media accounts on X, reaching millions of followers.
Content and messaging: Distortion and conspiracy
The videos blend sensationalism with conspiracy theories. One clip shows Donald Trump drowning in a whirlwind of "Epstein file" documents, accompanied by rap lyrics claiming, "the secrets are leaking, the pressure is rising." Another depicts George Floyd under a police officer's boot, with narration framing Iran as standing "for everyone your system ever wronged."
When questioned about the Epstein references, Mr. Explosive claimed they illustrate the "kind of confrontation" between Iran-"seeking truth and freedom"-and those linked to "cannibals," a baseless allusion to unfounded theories tying the Trump administration to cannibalism.
Factual inaccuracies are rampant. One video falsely shows the Iranian military capturing a downed US fighter pilot. US officials confirmed the airman, whose aircraft was shot down over a remote Iranian region, was rescued by special forces on April 4. Mr. Explosive dismissed this, alleging the operation was a cover for "stealing uranium from Iran." When pressed, he claimed only "13% of what Mr. Trump says is based on facts."
Amplification and impact: A new frontier in propaganda
Dr. Emma Briant, a leading propaganda expert, describes the content as "highly sophisticated," far exceeding the term "slopaganda"-a portmanteau of "AI slop" and "propaganda." The clips have been viewed hundreds of millions of times since the war's escalation, often appearing in "real time" following major developments, sometimes even before official announcements.
Dr. Tine Munk, a cyber warfare expert at Nottingham Trent University, characterizes Iran's tactics as "defensive memetic warfare," a strategy to counter US rhetoric. The videos have grown increasingly detailed, depicting specific Gulf locations-such as power stations and airports-being destroyed by Iranian missiles, despite most targets sustaining only limited damage in reality.
A US-based TikTok influencer, @newswithsteph, promoted the false pilot narrative, telling followers the Lego videos had been "shockingly accurate" and that the rescue mission was actually a "special ops mission for uranium."
Ethics and escalation: Blurring lines in digital warfare
Mr. Explosive defended his team's work as "honourable," dismissing the 2025 mass protests in Iran-which saw thousands killed-as a "coup" funded by Trump. He also rejected accusations of antisemitism, arguing the videos are "anti-Zionist," not antisemitic, and that imagery like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drinking blood highlights "atrocities committed by him."
Most Iranians lack internet access due to a nationwide shutdown, but Mr. Explosive claimed he used "journalist internet," a government-granted privilege. Iran ranks among the world's most repressive countries for press freedom.
Social media platforms have repeatedly shut down accounts spreading the Lego-style videos, but new ones emerge quickly. Munk warns this form of "agile, aggressive internet diplomacy" bypasses traditional media, increasing the risk of misinterpretation and escalation. "Traditional diplomacy doesn't exist here," she said. "We are in a kind of limbo."
Background: Conflict and crackdowns
The current US-Iran conflict began in February after US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. According to officials in Iran, Lebanon, and other Middle Eastern nations, thousands have died in the violence. Prior to the war, Iran's government killed thousands of protesters during a brutal crackdown, with the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana) reporting at least 7,000 civilian deaths.
