Former US Nurse Creates Pro-Iranian AI Lego Propaganda Videos Amid Rising Tensions

Mahdi Hemmat, a former neonatal nurse from Milwaukee, has emerged as the creator behind a series of pro-Iranian propaganda videos made with artificial intelligence and Lego-style animation. Hemmat, 37, who describes himself as a "Lego journalist" on Instagram, produces videos that glorify Iran, depict the White House burning, and celebrate the death of pro-Israel Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. These videos have been released almost daily amid escalating tensions and reciprocal attacks between Iran and the United States over the past two weeks.

Hemmat, an Iranian-American, operated the Instagram and TikTok account @persiaboihemmat, which has nearly 160,000 followers. One recent video targeted conservative activist Laura Loomer with sniper crosshairs and threatening rap lyrics, prompting Loomer to increase her personal security. Another video celebrated Senator Graham's death with a viral rap song claiming he was "first on the list," garnering over 100,000 views.

In an April interview with Russian channel RT, Hemmat took responsibility for the videos, stating they mock former President Donald Trump and praise Iran's social media strategy. He described the US as a "rogue terrorist state" and claimed his low-cost, high-impact content forces billion-dollar media empires on the defensive. Videos include scenes of armed men firing at the White House and American forces fleeing Iranian attacks in the Middle East.

Hemmat is reportedly linked to the Tehran-based media collective Explosive Media, which distributes similar AI-generated content. A Canadian Foreign Ministry report noted that one of the group's donors was involved in Iranian candidate Saeed Jalili's 2024 election campaign, and that Lego-style propaganda videos reached 83 million interactions in the first month of the Iran-Israel conflict. Although Hemmat's LinkedIn still lists him as employed at Aurora Sinai Medical Center, the hospital confirmed he has not worked there since March 2025. Attempts to reach Hemmat for comment were unsuccessful.