Iran’s Use of Influencers to Promote Regime Messaging

The Iranian regime employs “access diplomacy” to selectively allow sympathetic Western journalists into the country, aiming to project a controlled narrative that blames “rioters” for unrest and rising death tolls. This manipulation restricts what reporters can cover, reinforcing a state-controlled media landscape where dissent is harshly punished. Influencers, like Bushra Shaikh, are used to legitimize the regime’s claims, framing protesters as violent and aligning with official messaging. Despite constitutional protections for press freedom, censorship remains pervasive, with serious consequences for those opposing the regime narrative.

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