‘Zionism as the Legacy of Cyrus’: (Online) Proxy Nationalism of Diasporic Iranians

ABSTRACT This paper focuses on examining the online activities of a group of diasporic Iranians who exhibit Israeli proxy nationalism online by openly expressing support for Israel and Zionism. By analysing posts, reposts and comments made on X after the Hamas‐led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 using the hashtag #IraniansStandWithIsrael, the paper aims to uncover the ideological and political motivations driving this group of diasporic Iranians' pro‐Israeli proxy nationalism. The paper identified multiple modes through which solidarity with Israel is expressed online. Two primary modes are recognizing a common enemy and shared suffering, which fosters a sense of solidarity between the two groups; and collective memory and nostalgia, highlighting the ancient bond between two peoples. The paper considers this group of Iranians as an extreme diaspora and discusses how online Israeli proxy nationalism is instrumentalized to reconstruct a racialized notion of ‘authentic Iranianness’, which serves to reinforce the existent Iranian nationalist narratives.