Explosive Media: Iranian state-linked AI Lego-style videos claiming that Tehran has “won the propaganda war”

Rapid Response Mechanism Canada (RRM Canada) has directly linked to the Iranian state, through open-source analysis, the ongoing viral information operation using AI Lego-style figures. The operation promotes the perspective that Iran has “won the propaganda war” in the Persian Gulf. The operation received very high levels of engagement. RRM Canada estimates that at least 83 million users globally viewed the videos in the first month of the U.S.-Iran conflict, in March 2026. It also received extensive news coverage from major global news outlets such as the BBC, CNN, and the New York Times, adding to the operation's virality. RRM Canada assesses that Explosive Media, a Tehran-based outlet and creators of the videos, is likely linked to Saeed Jalili, Representative of the Supreme Leader at Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC). Explosive Media denies any links to the state and presents itself as an independent media outlet that needs audience support through cryptocurrency donations. Explosive Media established a presence on Telegram and Instagram on June 25, 2025, initially producing Farsi-language videos with human hosts. On March 7, 2026, Explosive Media switched from producing content in Farsi to producing English-language generative AI videos with Lego-style figures. The switch increased engagement among Western audiences. RRM Canada also detected both Russian and Iranian state-controlled media accounts boosting visibility of the first AI Lego-style video on X — including RT and Iran Radio PS — in the first 12 hours of its release. RRM Canada assesses that at least 83 million users globally and in Canada viewed an AI Lego-style video; the number is likely higher, as these videos were frequently removed by platforms for violating their terms of service. Overall, RRM Canada estimates that likely 200 million users viewed at least one AI Lego-style video in March 2026. RRM Canada assesses that Russia and Iranian state-controlled media outlets played a small part in amplifying the videos to new audiences but played a minimal role in their ongoing virality throughout March, with only 4 million user views (4.38 percent) of its 83 million total views emanating from accounts that bear an IP location of Russia or Iran. RRM Canada identified a March 17, 2026, AI Lego-style video on Explosive Media's Instagram account listing “M. Taha Ansari Mohseri” — who strongly resembles a recurring human host on the outlet's Telegram channel (“Individual 1”) — as a video collaborator. In June 2024, Mr. Mohseri was part of Saeed Jalili's social media team during Mr. Jalili's unsuccessful 2024 Iranian presidential run and continued to appear frequently in Mr. Jalili's official Telegram and Instagram presence. In June 2025, Mr. Mohseri appeared on Mr. Jalili's “aqave_president” Telegram account directing users to follow Mr. Mohseri at Explosive Media. RRM Canada assesses that Iran's AI Lego-style videos are likely the most widely viewed foreign information operation since the start of 2026, surpassing all other malign activity carried out by Russia or any other state actors. Experts at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue estimate that Iran's broader AI-driven operations — which have branched out to include even more child-friendly intellectual properties, such as the video game Minecraft and Pixar-style animated characters — likely amassed over a billion views in the first month of the conflict.