The Art of Election Manipulation

In recent years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has employed extensive cyber operations and influence campaigns to artificially inflate electoral participation and manipulate public perception. These activities include targeted cyber-attacks and orchestrated propaganda campaigns aimed at tampering with elections and boosting the appearance of public engagement. Specifically, Iranian cyber forces, including groups affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, have been involved in various efforts to infiltrate cyberspace and conduct influence operations using advanced techniques and leveraging social media to disseminate government messages.
These efforts are not only carried out within Iran but also internationally to undermine international support for political rivals and manipulate global public opinion against the regime's opponents. The operations involve spreading fake news, utilizing fake accounts, and misleading messages to create a positive image of the political establishment and encourage electoral participation with deceptive promises.