The CIA posted Farsi-language guidance showing Iranians how to contact the agency securely, distributing the material on X, Instagram and YouTube. The advice recommends VPNs, disposable devices, private browsers and explains contact options via the CIA website and the darknet. The outreach is part of multilingual campaigns and arrived as U.S.-Iran tensions rise and anti-government protests continue in Tehran.
CIA Posts Farsi Security Guidance for Iranians as Trump Weighs Military Options
Pedestrians walk past a billboard depicting a U.S. aircraft carrier with damaged fighter jets on its deck and a sign in Farsi and English reading, "If you sow the wind, you'll reap the whirlwind," at Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) Square in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Central Intelligence Agency on Tuesday published Farsi-language guidance aimed at Iranians who may want to contact the agency, offering step-by-step instructions on how to reach U.S. intelligence securely as President Donald Trump considers possible military options.
What the CIA Posted
The material, distributed in Farsi on X, Instagram and YouTube, explains technical measures to reduce digital traces and make secure virtual calls. The post drew millions of views within hours of publication.
Security Recommendations
The agency's guidance recommends that prospective informants:
- Use a virtual private network (VPN) to circumvent internet restrictions and lessen surveillance;
- Consider a disposable device that cannot easily be traced back to the user;
- Employ private or incognito browser modes and delete browsing history to reduce digital footprints;
- Follow the documented procedures for contacting the CIA via its public website or through the darknet, which requires specialized tools to help conceal identity.
Broader Outreach And Context
The Farsi post is part of a broader campaign by the CIA that has produced similar messages in Mandarin, Russian and Korean. The agency has not confirmed whether previous recruitment videos produced actionable tips or new sources, but Director John Ratcliffe has said the campaigns are having an impact.
"Last year, CIA’s Mandarin video campaign reached many Chinese citizens, and we know there are many more searching for a way to improve their lives and change their country for the better," Ratcliffe said when a new Mandarin video was posted.
The release comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. The United States has deployed what officials have characterized as its largest military force to the Middle East in decades. In January, President Trump threatened military action after Tehran's crackdown on nationwide protests, then shifted attention to Iran's disputed nuclear program; another round of nuclear talks is scheduled for later this week.
Signs of unrest inside Iran have continued: students staged anti-government demonstrations at universities in Tehran on Monday, reflecting growing public discontent.
A spokesperson for Iran's Mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the new video.
Note: Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri contributed reporting from New York.
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