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The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is extending a helping hand to Iranians willing to become informants, amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran. This initiative coincides with President Donald Trump’s contemplation of military action against Iran, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
The CIA has taken to platforms like X, YouTube, and Instagram to disseminate a message in Farsi, aiming to instruct potential informants on how to contact the agency securely. The message reassures, “Hello. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) hears you and wants to help. Here’s how to make a secure virtual call with us.”
This outreach effort unfolds against a backdrop of escalating unrest within Iran, where protests have recently surged. Parallel to these developments, the United States has been strategically positioning a significant naval presence in the waters near Iran, alongside deploying warplanes to regional air bases.
The move comes at a time of rising tensions between Washington and Iran as well as a fresh outbreak of protests in the Middle Eastern country.
For weeks, the United States has assembled a large naval force in waters off Iran and deployed warplanes to air bases in the region.
The CIA has previously launched online campaigns to recruit potential informants in Mandarin, Russian and Korean.
They typically involve details about setting up secure communication networks designed to protect sources from state surveillance apparatus.
Trump threatened military strikes last month in response to the Iranian government’s bloody crackdown on national demonstrations before warning the regime to secure a deal on its controversial nuclear program.
Talks on the subject between US and Iranian officials are planned later this week.
Trump and White House officials have insisted the US government is seeking a diplomatic solution, but have not ruled out armed intervention.
Leading up to Trump’s State of the Union in Washington DC today at 1pm AEDT, senior Congress members were briefed on the Iran situation by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
He was scheduled to update the so-called “gang of eight”, comprising senior Republican and Democratic legislators about Iran, reports Reuters.
– With Associated Press
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