The Central Intelligence Agency has intensified its efforts to recruit sources in Iran, China, Russia and North Korea, publishing new Farsi-language guidance for Iranians seeking to contact the agency securely.
The move comes as U.S. military forces expand their presence in the Middle East, with President Donald Trump signaling he could authorize military action against Iran if nuclear negotiations scheduled for Thursday fail.
In a recent national address, Trump said he would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, calling the Islamic Republic the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. Tehran denies pursuing nuclear arms.
The CIA posted the Farsi-language message across multiple platforms, including X, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram and YouTube. The outreach is part of a broader campaign targeting potential sources in several U.S. adversary states.
The agency advised would-be contacts to take precautions, such as avoiding workplace devices, using disposable hardware if possible, and remaining aware of their surroundings. It suggested using a trusted VPN not based in Russia, Iran or China, or accessing the Tor network for encrypted communication.
The CIA declined to comment further, and Iran’s UN mission did not immediately respond.
U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to meet Iranian officials led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva for a fresh round of nuclear talks.
Trump has warned that failure to reach an agreement — or the execution of individuals detained during January’s nationwide protests — could trigger military consequences.
Rights organizations say the crackdown on demonstrators marked Iran’s most severe internal unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.