In Part Eleven of Irregular Warfare Initiative’s special series on the conflict with Iran, presented by the Economic & Legal Warfare Team, Hamlet Yousef (IWI Economic & Legal Warfare Advisor) and Ioannis (Gianni) Koskinas (CEO, Hoplite Group) are joined by special guest Dave Pitts (President, IPA; Former CIA Senior Executive; Co-Chair, Cipher Brief Gray Zone Group) for a discussion on the cognitive dimension of the conflict. Drawing on Pitts’ expertise in cognitive warfare, the panel examines how Iran seeks to shape perceptions among Western policymakers, markets, media, and the public—and how those efforts can influence the broader political and economic environment surrounding the conflict. The discussion is moderated by Jackie Giunta (IWI Director of Engagements).
The conversation explores the growing role of memes, AI-generated content, social media, and psychological operations in shaping how military and geopolitical events are understood, as well as the risk that analysts and institutions can inadvertently amplify adversary narratives. The panel also considers the intersection of cognitive and economic warfare, including how disruption to shipping, markets, and regional stability can create strategic effects beyond the battlefield, and how artificial intelligence is accelerating the speed and scale at which influence operations can shape the information environment.
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