On October 3, 2025, the left-leaning Israeli newspaper Haaretz published an investigative report alleging a covert, state-funded Israeli influence operation in Iran. According to the report, the campaign’s goal is to promote the restoration of the monarchy under Reza Pahlavi.
Background
This exposé comes amid the long-standing shadow war between Israel and Iran, a conflict increasingly involving cyber warfare and information campaigns. The Haaretz report points to operations using online networks to influence public opinion within Iran. The focus on Reza Pahlavi follows his high-profile visit to Israel in 2023, which was framed by some Israeli officials as an effort to build alliances with the Iranian opposition.
Analysis
Beyond the operation itself, the publication of this report by a prominent left-wing Israeli outlet has significant implications. Critics argue that this disclosure, regardless of its accuracy, serves as an unwitting gift to the Islamic Republic’s propaganda machine. The Tehran regime can now use this report to discredit any opposition movement, especially monarchists, as “puppets of the Zionists” and rally its base against a common external foe. This action by Haaretz raises the question of whether the outlet’s priority is combating Israel’s right-wing government or confronting a hostile regime in Tehran. The exposé could undermine strategic efforts to weaken the Islamic Republic and potentially damage the credibility of segments of the Iranian opposition.
Conclusion
While media transparency is a democratic principle, Haaretz’s publication of a report on an influence operation in Iran sparks a serious debate about responsibility during a covert war. The move may, unintentionally, end up benefiting the Islamic Republic more than it helps the Iranian people.
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