We spoke to the man making viral Lego-style AI videos for Iran. Experts say it’s powerful propaganda

Viral AI Videos in the Style of Lego: A Tool of Iranian Propaganda

These AI-generated videos, styled after the iconic Lego aesthetic, blend bright, playful visuals with stark, dramatic scenes. Featuring elements like dying children, fighter jets, and former U.S. President Donald Trump, they present a vivid narrative of resistance. Experts argue that the clips are not just creative content but a potent form of pro-Iranian propaganda, leveraging the universal appeal of the Lego brand to reach global audiences.

A Confident Operator

For the BBC podcast *Top Comment*, we spoke with a representative of Explosive Media, one of the leading producers of the videos. He requested to be called Mr Explosive, a social media strategist who initially denied ties to the Iranian government. However, during the interview, he acknowledged that the regime is a “customer,” a claim he had never publicly confirmed before.

“Possibly there was no lost pilot, there was no rescue operation. Their main goal was to steal uranium from Iran.”

Propaganda Tactics and Messaging

The core message of the videos is clear: Iran is fighting against a global oppressor, the United States. The clips are intentionally bold, with their garish style and unambiguous tone. Despite this, they have sparked widespread engagement, with millions of views and comments. In one scene, Trump is depicted falling through a storm of “Epstein file” documents as rap lyrics declare, “the secrets are leaking, the pressure is rising.” Another shows George Floyd under a policeman’s boot, accompanied by the claim that Iran is “standing here for everyone your system ever wronged.”

“Slopaganda” – coined in an academic paper last year as a play on ‘AI slop’ – is too weak a term to capture how powerful this ‘highly sophisticated’ content is,” says Dr Emma Briant, a leading propaganda expert.

Factual Nuances and Alternative Narratives

Iranian and Russian state media accounts on X frequently share the videos, amplifying their reach. When asked about the Epstein files, Mr Explosive explained their inclusion as a way to highlight the “kind of confrontation they are witnessing” between Iran, which he describes as “seeking truth and freedom,” and those he calls “cannibals.” This reference to the Epstein files linking the Trump administration to cannibalism, though lacking credible evidence, underscores the narrative’s emotional appeal.

Other inaccuracies also feature prominently. In a clip showing the Iranian military capturing a downed U.S. pilot, Mr Explosive disputes the U.S. account of the event. He argues that the airman was not rescued but instead used as part of a mission to “steal uranium from Iran.” When confronted with U.S. officials’ confirmation of the pilot’s rescue on April 4, he counters by saying, “Only 13% of what Mr Trump says is based on facts.”

The Strategic Shift in Messaging

The videos have evolved since their early 2025 debut, becoming increasingly detailed. They now depict specific Gulf locations, such as power stations and airports, as entirely obliterated by Iranian missiles. This level of specificity suggests a deliberate effort to create a convincing visual narrative. Dr Tine Munk, a cyber warfare expert at Nottingham Trent University, describes these tactics as “defensive memetic warfare,” a strategy to counter U.S. rhetoric by appealing to Western audiences through familiar, accessible formats.

With AI tools trained on Western data, Iran and other nations can now craft content that resonates culturally. As Briant notes, this is a capability previously lacking in authoritarian efforts to influence the West. The result? A viral phenomenon that blends entertainment with messaging, reshaping public perception in subtle yet impactful ways.