Some ultranationalist and far-right groups in Serbia have openly expressed support for Iran following the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. On social media, these groups—long known for promoting anti-Western and pro-Russian narratives—have published messages backing Tehran and even called for attacks on the U.S. military base Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo.
Several Telegram channels with tens of thousands of followers have been commenting almost daily on developments in the war, portraying Iran as an ally in what they describe as a “global struggle against the West.” According to analysts, this rhetoric is part of a broader anti-NATO and anti-American discourse that has existed for years among segments of Serbia’s radical right.
One of the figures frequently spreading such content is Dejan Berić, a Serbian national who previously fought in Ukraine on the side of Russia. His Telegram channel, followed by more than 100,000 people, has published numerous posts since the beginning of the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. These posts include statements from Iranian officials, videos of bombings in Israel, and propaganda narratives directed against the United States.
Berić has also claimed that restrictions imposed by the American satellite-imagery company Planet Labs on publishing images from the Middle East were not intended to hinder Iran, but rather to conceal the damage allegedly suffered by the United States and its allies.
Meanwhile, several other Telegram channels have gone even further, calling on Iran to strike the U.S. military base at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo. Some posts have even published the base’s coordinates along with links to digital maps showing its location.
Security expert and researcher Hikmet Karčić says the support expressed by these groups for Iran does not necessarily stem from ideological closeness to the Iranian regime, but rather from a strong opposition to the West.
“According to this perception, any actor in conflict with the United States and its allies is seen as a potential ally,” he said.
Karčić added that ultranationalist groups often attempt to link global conflicts to local issues, particularly the situation in Kosovo. In that context, Camp Bondsteel is frequently referenced as a symbol of American presence in the region.
Support for Iran has also appeared on the ground. On March 7, a small rally was organized in Belgrade in support of the Iranian people by the right-wing organization Nashi Conservative Movement. Participants displayed Iranian and Belarusian flags while expressing solidarity with Tehran and with countries that, according to them, “oppose Western dominance.”
The conflict in the Middle East escalated on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched airstrikes against targets in Iran. During those strikes, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior officials were reportedly killed. Iran responded by launching drones and missiles toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the Persian Gulf.
According to data released by Iranian authorities, thousands of civilian structures were bombed during the first two weeks of the conflict and more than 1,300 civilians were killed. Meanwhile, the United States Department of Defense reported that several American soldiers were killed and dozens more injured in Iranian attacks.
Analysts warn that narratives spread by extremist groups on social media reinforce anti-Western propaganda and attempt to link global conflicts with political tensions in the Balkans.
