Bridget Bean, former acting CISA director, warned that Iran is using AI to create a misleading global narrative of victory after failing to win on the battlefield. She says Iranian state actors now combine real photos and videos with subtle AI edits so doctored content looks plausible. BBC Verify and the New York Post flagged AI-altered images of Mojtaba Khamenei as a recent example. Bean added the tactic has been used since June 2025 and intensified during the 12-day war.
Former CISA Official: Iran Uses AI To Manufacture A Global Narrative Of Victory
People hold placards with an image of Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, alongside the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a gathering to support Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran, Iran, March 9.(Reuters Photos)
Bridget Bean, the former acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), warned that the Iranian government is deploying artificial intelligence to craft a misleading global narrative portraying itself as victorious in a conflict with the United States. Bean made the remarks on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, saying Tehran is shifting to information operations after failing to achieve battlefield successes.
How The Manipulation Works
Bean explained that Iran has moved beyond obvious, crude edits — such as mismatched lip-syncs or awkward facial alterations — and now often blends authentic photos and video with subtle AI-generated tweaks. These small changes are intended to "pass the gut test," making doctored media harder for casual viewers to spot in fast social feeds.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran, Iran, Dec. 14, 2016.
"They can't win on the battlefield, so they're going to try and win through AI and through a global narrative," Bean said. "Their goal is to weaken our will, our resolve and to really push a narrative that is not true."
Recent Example And Verification
The New York Post reported that Iranian state outlets circulated AI-altered images of Mojtaba Khamenei after reports suggested he was too injured to appear in public. Shayan Sardarizadeh, a senior journalist at BBC Verify, told the Post that those photos appear to have been edited using online AI tools and were shared on Iranian state channels and Khamenei's X account.
Broader Context And Risks
Bean noted this playbook has been used since June of 2025 and said it intensified during the 12-day war, when AI-generated disinformation reportedly outpaced traditional propaganda. She urged the public to be vigilant, emphasizing that fast-scrolling users may miss subtle manipulations and that doctored content can erode public resolve and distort international perception.
Implication: The growing sophistication of AI-enabled information operations makes media literacy and verification tools increasingly important for journalists, platforms, and the public.
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