Iran Recycles Its “Godfather of Propaganda” Playbook, Using Civilians as Human Shields in War with US and Israel

Iran’s clerical regime is shamelessly resurrecting its decades-old propaganda playbook in the current conflict with the US and Israel. Just hours before a two-week ceasefire took effect on April 7, 2026, Tehran ordered loyalists—including children—to surround critical energy infrastructure as human shields. This tactic is a calculated gamble to provoke American public outrage if civilians are harmed and to bolster the regime’s grip on power at home.

Lisa Daftari, an Iran expert and Editor-in-Chief of the Foreign Desk, called Iran the “Godfather of propaganda.” She explained to Fox News Digital that Tehran has spent nearly half a century perfecting the art of saying one thing in negotiations while doing the opposite on the battlefield. “They have never kept their word on weapons agreements, and there is no reason to believe this time will be different,” Daftari warned.

The regime’s use of civilian infrastructure as military shields is nothing new. It has long embedded military assets in hospitals, mosques, schools, and power plants—not only inside Iran but also through proxy groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. What’s different now is the brazen public display, staged for global cameras, to maximize propaganda impact during the ceasefire period.

The propaganda extends to exploiting tragic incidents for maximum effect. Early in the conflict, Iran claimed a US airstrike hit a girls’ school in Minab, killing up to 180 children and staff. Despite launching a Pentagon investigation, no independent confirmation has emerged. Iranian-American journalist Banafsheh Zand pointed out inconsistencies in the regime’s narrative, highlighting the lack of credible evidence and contradictory local reports.

Both Democratic and Republican US administrations have long designated Iran’s regime as a leading state sponsor of terrorism. Yet, as Senator John Fetterman bluntly put it on Fox News, the American media is “essentially… carrying water for Iran” by uncritically amplifying Tehran’s propaganda.

Jonathan Ruhe, a fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), emphasized that Iran’s true goal is to project strength to its own people despite severe leadership losses and military setbacks. By using civilians as human shields, Iran cynically plays a deadly game of propaganda warfare, indifferent to the human cost.

As high-level peace talks between the US and Iran begin in Pakistan, the Trump administration must approach negotiations with extreme skepticism. Iran’s “Godfather of propaganda” tactics are designed to deceive and manipulate, not to foster genuine peace. The world cannot afford to be fooled again.