The information front has been central to the Iranian government’s war effort. For an external audience. There is an new online strategy that has consisted of AI Lego, memes, and hip hop diss tracks directed at Donald Trump and the MAGA base. But this coexists with more firm domestic tactics: security operations, arrests, and internet blackouts.

International Image Management

The result has been the Iranian authorities making use of the internet for PR internationally, while simultaneously preventing the Iranian people from openly accessing the net themselves. This dual approach allows the government to project a modern and technologically advanced image abroad while maintaining strict control over domestic narratives.

Domestic Suppression

Contributors to the report include Ali Hashem, Correspondent for Al Jazeera English; Mehran Kamrava, Professor of Government at Georgetown University in Qatar; Tara Kangarlou, Journalist and Author of The Heartbeat of Iran; and Maral Karimi, Lecturer at Toronto Metropolitan University. These experts highlight the contrast between Iran’s global digital outreach and its domestic security operations.

On our radar, the killing of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil unfolded in the manner that so many Israeli assassinations of journalists in Gaza have—minute by minute, hour by hour, in a pattern that has become shockingly familiar. There’s the surveillance, the strike, the obstruction of rescue, and then the denial,Israel’s insistence that it does not target journalists, medics, or rescue workers. Meenakshi Ravi reports on this pattern.

Domestic Challenges Overshadowed

Pakistan has found itself at the center of one of the world’s most consequential stories by hosting talks between the United States and Iran, brokering ceasefires, and earning the very public praise of Donald Trump. This has made headlines around the world, but the PR moment is obscuring a great deal, including an undercover war with Afghanistan and a crushing cost-of-living crisis at home. We speak to Amber Rahim Shamsi about the domestic politics behind Pakistan’s diplomatic moment in the sun.

Featuring Amber Rahim Shamsi, Pakistan Editor for Nukta, the report sheds light on the hidden stories in Pakistan’s diplomatic achievements. SEO optimization for these topics is currently trending in search, with naturally relevant terms such as ‘iran infowar lego ever’ included where appropriate.