Leiden University Student Repository

Broek, Luuk van den (2025)

Aligning with Moscow, Attacking the West: Why Iran amplifies anti-Western narratives after the Nord Stream sabotage

Bachelor thesis | Security Studies (BSc)

This thesis examines the role of Iranian state-sponsored disinformation around the Nord Stream sabotage. Iran continued reporting about US and European involvement in the sabotage, even after reports emerged that a pro-Ukrainian team was behind the sabotage, and despite strengthened relations between Iran and Russia. Consequently, this thesis answers the question: Why does Iranian state media outlet Press TV frame the Nord Stream sabotage in a way that emphasises US and European involvement, even after reports emerged that a pro-Ukrainian group was behind the sabotage? To answer the question, this research adopts the strategic narrative theory. This theoretical approach enables the use of a narrative analysis to examine news articles from Press TV. The findings reveal that following the reports that a Ukrainian team was behind the sabotage would have left a gap in Iran’s existing strategic narrative of anti-Western sentiments. Iran used the Nord Stream sabotage to amplify their...Show moreThis thesis examines the role of Iranian state-sponsored disinformation around the Nord Stream sabotage. Iran continued reporting about US and European involvement in the sabotage, even after reports emerged that a pro-Ukrainian team was behind the sabotage, and despite strengthened relations between Iran and Russia. Consequently, this thesis answers the question: Why does Iranian state media outlet Press TV frame the Nord Stream sabotage in a way that emphasises US and European involvement, even after reports emerged that a pro-Ukrainian group was behind the sabotage? To answer the question, this research adopts the strategic narrative theory. This theoretical approach enables the use of a narrative analysis to examine news articles from Press TV. The findings reveal that following the reports that a Ukrainian team was behind the sabotage would have left a gap in Iran’s existing strategic narrative of anti-Western sentiments. Iran used the Nord Stream sabotage to amplify their existing narrative of anti-Western sentiments. While Iran supports Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it chooses not to frame Ukraine as their enemy. Instead, Iran uses the conflict as a means to fight the West. This thesis underlines how autocracies use strategic narratives and disinformation to undermine explanations that do not align with their existing narrative.Show less

Author

Broek, Luuk van den

Faculty

Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs

Supervisors

Robin, M.P.C.E.

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en