CNN Analyst Says Iran Is Winning War Because Memes

CNN guest Nayyera Haq attempted to spin the war as a win for Iran, claiming that the United States was behind when it came to internet memes and propaganda, and arguing that in order to “win,” all Iran had to do was “survive.”

Haq — who previously served as a senior State Department adviser under former President Barack Obama — joined a panel discussion on CNN’s “State of the Union,” where she said that the war thus far had been a showcase displaying two areas in which Iran was prevailing over the United States.

WATCH:

WATCH @scottjenningsKY clowns Obama WH official Nayyera Haq for suggesting Iran’s memes are a capability on par with the Shahed drone.

NAYYERA HAQ: I think the irony in all of this is that Iran has shown its capabilities in two ways, where the United States is unfortunately… pic.twitter.com/ob7XuCtbVa

— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) April 5, 2026

“I think the irony in all of this is that Iran has shown its capabilities in two ways, where the United States is unfortunately catching up,” Haq began, saying that the first capability was the use of cheap drone technology to carry out attacks — a capability that Iran had honed while providing that technology to Russia in its ongoing war with Ukraine.

“And the second is the meme war and internet propaganda, which is something actually the Iranians have been known for and influencing. And so they had — for all of our talk on our side of all the people killed in the regime, they have been pushing out through multiple channels around the world, images of the American army generals and military people who have also lost their jobs at this time,” Haq continued. “So, again, the way this looks out in the public is not a United States that is locked and loaded and working in one direction.”

Conservative commentator Scott Jennings pushed back then, asking Haq, “Do you think that the Iranians would rather have their entire navy back or their memes?”

“Oh, I think the — I think that, no, when we’re talking —” Haq protested.

“I mean, come on. We have destroyed 13,000 military targets. And they have memes,” Jennings said.

“This is a — the big distinction, is that we’re fighting the war on their land,” Haq pivoted. “So they have a say. If they survive, that’s a win for them. That’s it. So their stakes are so much higher, but they have to do so much less to be able to maintain some kind of credibility.”