Iranian regime targets diaspora with propaganda, financial appeals, analyst says

As the conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel intensifies, a crucial front is opening far from the battlefield, according to Ashkan Rostami, a geopolitical analyst with the Institute for a New Middle East. The Iranian regime, facing internal communication challenges due to internet restrictions, is now actively engaging its diaspora, particularly in Europe, through a fortified propaganda campaign and direct financial appeals. This strategy, Rostami observes, aims to counter the diaspora's influence in speaking for those inside Iran and to garner support for the regime's objectives.

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the Islamic regime absolutely began to do its propaganda outside Iran.

The regime's outreach includes emails to Iranians abroad, inviting them to join a campaign against the U.S. and Israel, and soliciting financial aid. Notably, one appeal mentioned a "Red Cross account in Kenya" as a channel for support, a detail Rostami found particularly unusual. Direct financial contributions were also facilitated through the Iranian embassy in Italy, either via official bank accounts or cash donations.

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they cut the internet and the people inside Iran can’t do anything,” while “the people outside Iran, the diaspora, the Iranian diaspora actually talked on behalf of the people inside Iran.

Rostami highlights that this campaign is not confined to a single country, with reports of similar activities in Italy and potentially other European nations. He notes that European countries, including Italy, have largely refrained from taking public action against these efforts, citing diplomatic protocols and the sovereignty of embassies. While intelligence agencies may be monitoring financial flows, overt responses have been minimal, leaving the diaspora's response and the effectiveness of the regime's divisive tactics as key points of observation.

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It’s actually something normal,” he said, adding that the regime “fortified its propaganda outside of Iran,” “decided to double” what it was doing, and sent an email to Iranian citizens abroad.

From our perspective at The Media Line, this dual-front strategy—military conflict and information warfare—underscores the regime's adaptability under pressure. The focus on the diaspora, often a critical voice against the government, reveals a strategic attempt to co-opt or neutralize dissent. The unusual mention of a Kenyan Red Cross account, if accurate, raises questions about the transparency and legitimacy of the regime's fundraising methods and its ability to leverage international organizations, even indirectly, for its political aims. The muted European response also points to the complex diplomatic landscape, where national interests and established protocols can limit decisive action against such perceived interference.

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I know from Italy, I think it happened also in other countries,” with many Iranian citizens in the diaspora receiving two emails.