We spoke to the man making viral Lego-style AI videos for Iran. Experts say it’s powerful propaganda
At first glance, these videos resemble scenes from a Lego animated film—vibrant and dynamic—but they carry a darker message. Featuring imagery of dying children, fighter jets, and former U.S. President Donald Trump, they are designed to promote Iran’s narrative. For the BBC podcast *Top Comment*, we interviewed a representative from Explosive Media, one of the key producers of these clips. He requested to be called Mr. Explosive, describing himself as a skilled social media strategist. While he previously denied ties to the Iranian government, he later acknowledged the regime as a “customer,” a statement he had not made publicly before.
The core theme of these videos is Iran’s resistance against the United States, framed as a global power seeking to dominate. Despite their exaggerated and eye-catching style, they have sparked widespread engagement online. In one clip, Trump is shown falling through a storm of “Epstein file” documents, accompanied by rap lyrics:
“The secrets are leaking, the pressure is rising.”
Another video depicts George Floyd under a policeman’s boot, paired with the caption:
“Iran is standing here for everyone your system ever wronged.”
These visuals, though hyperbolic, resonate strongly with audiences.
Dr. Emma Briant, a leading expert on propaganda, argues that “slopaganda”—a term from an academic paper—fails to capture the impact of this “highly sophisticated” content. The AI-generated clips are estimated to have reached hundreds of millions of viewers during the conflict. In a video call, Mr. Explosive appeared with a silhouette and red-green lighting, symbolizing the Iranian flag. A green-feathered helmet, linked to Shia warrior Husayn ibn Ali, sat on his desk, reflecting the cultural motifs in their work.
Mr. Explosive explained the frequent use of the Epstein files in his videos: “It’s to show the audience the kind of confrontation they’re witnessing between Iran, which is seeking truth and freedom, and those who associate themselves with cannibals.” This references the theory that the files connect the Trump administration to cannibalism, a claim without solid evidence. He also dismissed factual inaccuracies, such as the depiction of an Iranian military capturing a U.S. pilot. US officials confirmed the pilot was rescued by special forces on April 4, but Mr. Explosive countered: “Possibly there was no lost pilot, no rescue operation. Their main goal was to steal uranium from Iran.”
Such videos have shaped narratives among English-speaking audiences. A TikTok influencer, @newswithsteph, remarked:
“The Lego videos have been shockingly accurate so far. They broke the story about the recent US pilot mission that wasn’t a rescue mission at all but a special ops mission for uranium.”
AI tools, trained on Western data, allow Iran and other authoritarian states to craft culturally relevant content more effectively than before. Dr. Tine Munk, a cyber warfare expert at Nottingham Trent University, called this “defensive memetic warfare,” essential for countering U.S. rhetoric.
Explosive Media’s videos gained traction in early 2025, but their influence has surged during the US-Iran war. The Lego-style clips now depict precise Gulf locations, including power stations, airports, and industrial sites, in total destruction. This level of detail amplifies the perception of Iran’s military strength, even as the reality of the conflict remains complex.
