Avril Haines, the Director of National Intelligence, has accused Iran of inciting protests within the United States related to the conflict in Gaza by financially incentivizing demonstrators.
In a statement reported by Alhurra TV, Haines clarified, “I want to be clear that I know Americans participating in these protests are expressing their views on the Gaza conflict in good faith, and this intelligence does not suggest otherwise.”
She added that Americans targeted by this Iranian campaign might be unaware that they are interacting with or receiving support from a foreign government.
Haines urged all Americans to remain vigilant when engaging online with accounts and actors they do not know personally.
The White House accused Tehran on Tuesday of exploiting anti-Israel protests in the United States, calling this behavior unacceptable. This follows a warning from Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines that Iran is trying to fuel discord in American society.
Earlier on Tuesday, Haines warned that individuals linked to Iran’s government had impersonated activists online, encouraged protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, and even funded demonstrators.
These statements are expected to bolster demands for U.S. authorities to adopt a tougher stance on Gaza war protests, which began on college campuses at the end of the spring semester and have continued into the summer.
