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Iranian officials and state-linked accounts are mentioning Jeffrey Epstein in English-language messages to spread conspiracy theories and divide public opinion in the West.
Iranian officials and state-linked accounts are mentioning the Jeffrey Epstein scandal in English-language posts aimed at American audiences as part of a broader effort to promote conspiracy narratives and weaken support for U.S.-Israeli operations, experts told The Jerusalem Post.
The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, wrote in an English-language post on the X network:
"I have heard that the remaining members of Epstein's network have hatched a plot to create an incident similar to 9/11 and blame Iran for it. Iran fundamentally opposes such terrorist schemes and has no war with the American people."
In another reaction to US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Larijani wrote:
"Mr. Hegseth! Our leaders have been and still are among the people. What about your leaders? On Epstein's Island!"
According to NetBlocks data, while Iran is experiencing an internet blackout that has reached its 17th day and restrictions on several social media platforms, the fact that Larijani's message was written in English and not Persian suggests that it was not aimed at the Iranian public.
Washington Post journalist Will Oremus wrote that such messages aim to weaken support for US-Israeli military operations. A similar assessment was made by retired Lt. Col. David Siman-Tov for The Jerusalem Post.
Siman-Tov, a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and deputy director of the Institute for Intelligence Methodology Research at the Israeli Intelligence Community Memorial Center, said Iran wants to incite a “war” or “debate” within the United States over the conflict.
According to him, the "information war" could be the decisive factor in the outcome of the conflict. Iran and the US can eliminate or replace leaders, but social networks could influence the moment when US President Donald Trump decides to stop the conflict.
After monitoring the Iranian disinformation campaign, Siman-Tov said he had not noticed any major changes in the type of messages spread by official and fake accounts, similar to those used during elections or protests.
"In memory of the victims of Epstein Island"
Other experts believe that the Iranian regime is trying to attract conspiracy theorists and those interested in the Epstein case, who can then continue to consume Tehran's propaganda.
“There’s a lot of Epstein-related content being published to get attention,” Bret Schafer of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue told the Washington Post. “People come for the Epstein content and stay for the propaganda.”
According to The Telegraph, Iranian state media and pro-regime social media accounts also shared a manipulated image of a missile with the inscription in Persian: "In memory of the victims of Epstein Island."
Dr. Omer Yair, a scholar at the Lauder School of Governance, Diplomacy and Strategy at Reichman University, told The Jerusalem Post that much of the regime's online campaign aims to portray Israel as an immoral actor.
Despite the fact that the minimum age for marriage in Iran is 13, that there are reports of sexual violence against women in detention, and strict laws on women's dress and behavior, the Iranian regime has used the Epstein-related sex trafficking issue to spread the narrative that Israel is "behind everything that is bad."
According to Yair, by portraying Israel as a negative influence in the world, Tehran may try to increase pressure on the US to cease cooperation in operations against Iran and reduce ties with Israel.
The controversies and delays in the release of the Epstein files, as well as demands to hold those named in them accountable, have heightened public interest in the issue, he added.
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