From June 17, 2025, details an extensive Kremlin effort to influence the global information environment regarding the Israel-Iran conflict. Since Israel’s attack on June 13, the Kremlin has disseminated 3,892 posts, with 65% being factual and neutral, and a smaller 35% expressing pro-Iranian sentiment.
The pro-Iran messaging amplifies externally sourced content on successful Iranian missile strikes, condemnations of the June 13 attack, and portrays Russia and Putin as mediators. It is likely that Russia’s IO objectives are to attract new global news coverage by pairing factual updates with pro-Iran content and to persuade netizens to view Russian mediation as an effective conflict resolution method.
The IO outlook suggests this initial propaganda salvo is a geopolitically safe response, with future messaging likely to be influenced by factors such as US/Russian involvement in conflict mediation or fighting itself, spillover effects, and the Iranian regime’s stability.
