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

Viral AI Clips in Lego Style: A New Tool for Iran’s Propaganda Campaign

At first glance, these videos resemble scenes from a Lego film, yet they carry a sharper, more intense tone. Featuring dramatic imagery of dying children, fighter jets, and former U.S. President Donald Trump, they are not mere entertainment—they serve as potent pro-Iranian propaganda. For the BBC podcast Top Comment, we interviewed a representative of Explosive Media, one of the primary creators of these clips. He requested anonymity, choosing to be called Mr. Explosive. A seasoned social media strategist, he initially denies government ties but later admits Iran is a “customer,” a term he has not publicly acknowledged before.

The core message of these videos is clear: Iran is standing against the U.S. as a dominant global force. Though their style is garish and unsubtle, the content has sparked widespread engagement online. In one clip, Trump is shown descending into a storm of “Epstein file” documents, accompanied by rap music that declares, “the secrets are leaking, the pressure is rising.” Another video portrays George Floyd beneath a policeman’s boot, as Iran is described as “standing here for everyone your system ever wronged.” According to Dr. Emma Briant, a propaganda expert, the term “slopaganda”—a play on “AI slop”—fails to capture the impact of this “highly sophisticated” strategy.

During a video call, Mr. Explosive appeared in a dimly lit setting, flanked by the red and green hues of Iran’s flag. On his desk rested a green-feathered helmet, symbolizing the Shia warrior Husayn ibn Ali, who appears in several of their videos. He explained that the Lego aesthetic is chosen because it is a “world language,” allowing the content to resonate globally. Iranian and Russian state media frequently share these clips, amplifying their reach to millions of followers.

When asked about the Epstein files, Mr. Explosive claimed they are used to highlight the “kind of confrontation” between Iran, which “seeks truth and freedom,” and “those who associate themselves with cannibals.” This references a conspiracy theory linking the Trump administration to cannibalism, despite lacking credible evidence. The videos also include factual errors, such as depicting an Iranian military operation that supposedly captured a U.S. pilot. However, U.S. officials state the pilot was rescued by special forces on April 4. Mr. Explosive disputes this, arguing the focus was on “stealing uranium from Iran,” not rescue missions.

A U.S.-based TikTok creator, @newswithsteph, praised the Lego-style videos as “shockingly accurate,” claiming they revealed an “alternative narrative” about a recent pilot mission being a “special ops mission for uranium.” Dr. Briant notes that AI tools, trained on Western data, enable authoritarian states to craft “culturally appropriate” content, a gap previously filled by less effective methods. Dr. Tine Munk, a cyber warfare expert, describes Iran’s approach as “defensive memetic warfare,” a strategy to counter U.S. messaging.

Explosive Media’s videos first emerged in early 2025 but gained massive traction after the U.S.-Iran war. The clips now depict increasingly detailed Gulf locations, such as power stations and airports, being entirely destroyed by Iranian missiles. Despite real-world inaccuracies, these videos continue to shape perceptions among English-speaking audiences, demonstrating the power of AI in bypassing traditional media channels.