Tehran’s online messaging about Riyadh will evolve

Significance

Both events were heralded online by Iran’s state media and by supporters of Tehran’s hard-line government. However, they were largely ignored on the social media accounts of the supreme leader and the president.

Impacts

• The online media strategy around the deal will serve as a template as Iran tries to improve relations with other Gulf Arab states.
• State-controlled digital media will pivot toward an Asian framework, emphasising aspects such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
• The leaders' and pro-government media will not change their rhetoric on Israel, despite the latter’s closer ties with certain Arab states.
• Media and cultural forms with longer production cycles, such as film and television, will reflect the changes emerging online.