CIA launches fresh social media push to recruit Iranians

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20 hours ago|

World

CIA issues detailed Farsi instructions on secure contact.
Iran condemns move as blatant interference amid nuclear talks.

The United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) sparked official outrage in Iran after posting detailed Farsi-language recruitment instructions on X, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, and YouTube. The materials guide Iranians on how to communicate securely and avoid local security monitoring.

سلام. سازمان اطلاعات مرکزی (CIA) صدای شما را می‌شنود و می‌خواهد به شما کمک کند. در ادامه، راهنمایی لازم در مورد چگونگی برقراری تماس مجازی امن با ما ارائه شده است. pic.twitter.com/Dfq4zomz1n
— CIA (@CIA) February 24, 2026

The instructions emphasize using disposable devices instead of personal phones or work computers and recommend VPN services outside Russia, Iran, and China, or the Tor network to encrypt communications and hide identities. Prospective informants are asked to provide job titles, skills, and other information relevant to the agency.

Iran Condemns Effort

Through its embassy in The Hague, Iran denounced the campaign as "blatant and overt interference" in its internal affairs. The statement criticized the US for "double standards" and questioned how Washington would respond if the roles were reversed. Iranian officials have reiterated readiness to defend national interests.

Sensitive Timing Amid Nuclear Talks

The initiative comes as nuclear negotiations begin in Geneva, mediated by Oman, and amid large-scale US military deployments in the Middle East. In a recent State of the Union address, former President Donald Trump emphasized the potential for military action to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran continues to deny, insisting its program is peaceful.

Digital Espionage

Raises Tensions

Analysts warn that the CIA’s public, step-by-step approach, while stressing informant safety, risks heightening diplomatic and regional tensions, illustrating the growing role of digital espionage in contemporary international relations.