Security
CIA issues Farsi recruitment message aimed at Iranian dissidents
The CIA's Persian-language video invites Iranians with access to sensitive information to make secure contact
![A man reads a Farsi‑language message from the CIA that urges residents of Iran to securely contact the agency if they possess valuable information. [Pishtaz/Vazhnik/Pexels]](/gc3/images/2026/03/11/54958-CIA_message-370_237.webp)
By Pishtaz |
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has released a Persian-language video encouraging citizens inside Iran to share sensitive information with the agency through secure channels.
The message represents the most direct public recruitment of Iranian audiences in recent years.
Distributed across multiple social media platforms, the video reflects the growing accessibility of digital communications for informants inside even tightly controlled states.
Intelligence agencies increasingly use online tools to bypass political barriers and communicate directly with individuals living under authoritarian governments.
In the video, the CIA addresses Iranian citizens in Farsi and invites individuals with valuable access or specialized skills to establish secure contact.
The message highlights the agency’s interest in people who possess insights about political, military, or economic developments within Iran.
The video states that the agency wants to "hear your voice and help you."
The outreach is designed to attract individuals dissatisfied with the Islamic Republic regime or those with access to intelligence useful for US policymakers.
This initiative follows a similar effort in October 2024, when the CIA released instructions and infographics in Farsi, Mandarin, and Korean.
Those materials explained how individuals in adversarial countries could safely contact US intelligence services through carefully protected communication methods.
Secure communication
The recruitment message strongly emphasizes operational security and warns potential informants about the risks of exposure within heavily monitored digital environments.
It instructs viewers to use technological tools designed to protect anonymity and reduce the likelihood of detection by government authorities.
Among the recommended precautions are virtual private networks (VPNs), anonymous internet browsers, and disposable electronic devices that cannot easily be traced back to users.
These measures aim to prevent security agencies from identifying individuals who attempt to establish contact with US intelligence officials.
The CIA also advises potential contacts to use internet connections that cannot be linked to their identities or everyday activities.
In addition, viewers are encouraged to erase browsing histories and avoid leaving digital traces after attempting communication.
Digital outreach
The Persian-language message also reflects a broader effort to engage Iranian dissidents and individuals critical of the country’s leadership.
Iran has experienced periodic protests and social unrest in recent years, drawing international attention and expressions of support from US officials.
By appealing directly to Iranian citizens, the CIA signals that internal sources remain essential for understanding political and social developments within the country.
The initiative also illustrates how intelligence agencies increasingly adapt their recruitment strategies to modern digital environments and global communication networks.