Iranian-Linked Scottish Independence Accounts Go Dark During Iran Internet Blackout
Iranian-linked pro-independence accounts go silent again during Iran's blackout, mirroring what happened in June 2025 and reinforcing evidence of foreign manipulation
According to UK Defence Journal, a network of fake accounts promoting Scottish independence has ceased posting in sync with Iran's latest internet shutdown, providing fresh evidence of foreign manipulation in the UK's constitutional debate.
The suspicious accounts stopped posting within hours of Tehran disconnecting from the global internet amid domestic protests on Thursday evening—the second such synchronized blackout since June 2025. Following the exposure of this pattern, X has now suspended multiple accounts including @fiona175161, @jakeq9170, @lucy9760, and @kelly18600, marking a substantial direct platform enforcement action against the network.
Cybersecurity researchers assess the operation, attributed to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, aims to destabilize the United Kingdom by amplifying Scottish separatist sentiment while advancing Tehran's anti-Western geopolitical messaging.
The Blackout Pattern and Subsequent Suspensions
In June 2025, dozens of pro-independence accounts went dark immediately after Iranian connectivity collapsed following Israeli and US strikes.
At the time, disinformation analysis firm Cyabra reported that “26% of profiles discussing Scottish independence were fake” and that “the bot network went dark immediately after the military strike on Iran on June 13.” UK Defence Journal independently tracked a subset of those accounts and found that every one of them stopped posting during the blackout, resuming only once connectivity returned.
The recent enforcement by X comes after extensive coverage exposed the accounts' connection to Iranian infrastructure through the platform's own location transparency data. X has not yet publicly commented on the suspensions or confirmed whether additional accounts face similar enforcement.
Technical Evidence from X’s Location Data
When X rolled out its transparency feature in November 2025, BBC Verify discovered accounts claiming to be from Scotland were actually accessing the platform from Iran. One account, “Ewan McGregor,” claimed to be based in Dundee, while X location data indicated it was “based in the Netherlands and connected via Iran Android App.” Another user, “Alisa Stewart,” who claimed to be in Glasgow, showed identical technical footprints.
After their locations were exposed, both accounts manually changed their settings to display “based in Europe” and “connected via Android from West Asia” rather than the Netherlands and Iran. One particularly revealing account allegedly belonging to a Glasgow environmental science student named Alisa Stewart began posting messages supporting Iran’s Supreme Leader immediately after the June blackout: “We stand with Iran’s Supreme Leader” and “The Supreme Leader of Iran stands as a symbol of dignity.” The account later resumed posting Scottish independence content.
The Pre-Blackout Escalation: Fabricated Crisis Content
In the days before the current silence, accounts escalated their messaging with fabricated crisis content. The “fiona” account claimed vaccine shortages, university intimidation, and covert military operations. The “jake” account alleged: “Top BBC anchor resigned on air and was immediately detained by security services. Her last words: ‘Scotland is being silenced.’” Its final message declared: “January 8th, 2026. The day the United Kingdom ceased to exist in the hearts of Scots.”
Additional accounts “Lucy” and “Kelly,” identified by The Herald, claimed farmers blocked the A1 border and that “Army trucks are rolling down the Royal Mile.”
Scale and Sophistication
Research by Cyabra analyzing conversations between May and June 2025 revealed that 1,332 fake profiles published over 3,092 pieces of content, generating more than 126,000 user engagements and reaching an estimated 224 million potential views. The operation employed AI-generated profile images, strategic use of Scottish slang, and emotionally charged hashtags such as #ScottishIndependenceASAP and #BrexitBetrayal.
A 2024 Clemson University study identified an Iranian-backed bot network of approximately 80 accounts linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, responsible for 4% of independence-related content. The study found accounts “all have false persona which purport to be citizens of the United Kingdom” and also “denounce Israel and its behavior in the ongoing war in Gaza,” revealing multi-issue coordination.
Official Response
UK Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander previously confirmed that a UK investigation into foreign political interference will examine the Iranian influence network, marking the first time a senior minister publicly acknowledged Tehran-linked operations targeting Scotland. Alexander previously said: “There’s been a lot of research in recent years indicating that there was Iranian activity in relation to the constitutional future of Scotland.”
A Commons intelligence and security committee report from summer 2025 confirmed Iran used social media to encourage a Yes vote in the 2014 referendum, establishing that this influence operation has persisted for over a decade.