Iran used Telegram to recruit UK residents for anti-Israel demonstrations & propaganda – report

A report shed new light on allegations that the Iranian regime has been using Telegram to recruit British residents to organize anti-Israel demonstrations and distribute antisemitic propaganda in the United Kingdom.

According to the report published Friday by the London-based newspaper The Times, one of its journalists infiltrated a Telegram group by posing as a supporter of the Iranian regime seeking to participate in its activities in London.

After clicking on a publicly shared Telegram link, the journalist was reportedly contacted by an Iranian operative and remained in communication with him for roughly two weeks.

During the exchanges, the Iranian contact allegedly claimed that multiple individuals in London were already involved in the scheme. He also reportedly said that similar operations were underway in Israel, where dozens of operatives had allegedly been recruited to carry out acts of vandalism, photograph sensitive sites, and disrupt daily life.

The claims appear to align with a recent Israeli police investigation involving a man from Holon who was arrested on suspicion of acting on behalf of the Iranian regime. According to Israeli authorities, the suspect also initiated contact through the same Telegram channel referenced in The Times investigation. The Iranian agent allegedly offered the journalist money to recruit other participants willing to organize street demonstrations and hang anti-Israel posters in public spaces.

The journalist quoted his Iranian contact as saying, "Anyone with any ability should declare it and explain what their abilities and access are so we can make a plan for them.”

In response, the journalist claimed to have “basic coding skills,” which led the operative to suggest creating an online petition condemning the alleged “genocide” of children in Iran. The operative also reportedly sent posters and graphic material for distribution, including images blaming Israel, “Kahanists,” Jeffrey Epstein and other alleged Jewish-linked actors for “mass starvation” in Iran and “genocide” in Gaza.

Some of the materials reportedly borrowed imagery and slogans associated with the “No Kings” protests against U.S. President Donald Trump.

Intelligence analysts have long warned that Iran and other hostile individuals and governments could attempt to promote instability and internal chaos in Israel and other Western countries by these crude methods of using the internet to recruit people on the margins of society and pay them relatively small sums to carry out harassment or disruption campaigns. Criminal networks have also reportedly been used as subcontractors in more sophisticated operations designed to divert the attention and resources of intelligence, law enforcement and security agencies.

For example, a London-based group called "Hakarat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya" has emerged in recent months, claiming responsibility for several arson attacks against Jewish and Israeli businesses, diplomatic missions and even private homes. Law enforcement agencies reportedly believe these attacks are sponsored by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. There are suspicions of similar IRGC operations in other European countries, as well as locations in the U.S. and Canada.

Law enforcement officials say such operations are difficult to detect and prevent, and are urging the public to remain vigilant.