How the CIA Is Reaching Potential Sources in Iran

The Central Intelligence Agency has published Farsi-language guidance outlining ways people in Iran can securely contact the U.S. intelligence agency, offering practical instructions focused on digital privacy and anonymity.

The message, shared across social media platforms, is part of the CIA’s broader effort to recruit sources globally through publicly accessible outreach materials.

The guidance advises potential informants to use virtual private networks to bypass internet restrictions and reduce the risk of surveillance.

It also recommends browsing privately, deleting internet history and using disposable devices that cannot easily be traced back to a user. The agency further explains that contact can be made through its public website or through the darknet, a section of the internet designed to conceal user identity.

The outreach drew significant attention online, receiving millions of views shortly after publication.

Officials have said similar campaigns in other languages are intended to provide secure communication options for individuals who may wish to share information.

The latest message appears at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, alongside renewed domestic protests and ongoing diplomatic discussions over Iran’s nuclear program.