Iran may have just exposed itself again to a major international scandal—this time, not for funding terror or threatening genocide, but for violating U.S. export laws. A recent letter submitted to the United Nations by Iran’s Permanent Mission includes a hyperlink containing the text: utm_source=chatgpt.com, strongly suggesting that Iran’s Foreign Ministry, or its UN delegation, used OpenAI’s ChatGPT platform to draft or research parts of its official diplomatic communication.
This small digital footprint has massive implications.
Violation of U.S. Sanctions?
The use of ChatGPT by Iranian officials could constitute a direct breach of longstanding American sanctions against the Islamic Republic, particularly export controls that restrict access to U.S.-based technologies and AI systems. OpenAI, the U.S. company behind ChatGPT, is subject to these laws and explicitly prohibits use of its services in sanctioned countries—including Iran.
If confirmed, this would mean that Iran’s foreign ministry unlawfully bypassed U.S. export controls to utilize advanced AI tools created in the United States—tools that were never intended to be used by a regime that funds terror, censors speech, and wages war against democratic allies like Israel.
The Hypocrisy Runs Deep
This revelation becomes even more egregious considering the content of the letter itself. In it, Tehran whines about “violations of international law” while its Supreme Leader, just hours earlier, called for the complete destruction of the State of Israel. Now, we know that the regime may have used American-made AI to help draft this sanctimonious propaganda.
It’s a staggering display of hypocrisy: the same regime that executes dissidents, funds terrorist armies, and threatens genocide against Jews is using Silicon Valley tools to lecture the West on international norms.
Time for Accountability
The evidence is now in the public domain. The United States government must investigate whether Iran’s use of ChatGPT violates existing sanctions and export regulations. If it does, the Biden—or more fittingly, the Trump—administration must respond swiftly, not only by closing the loopholes but by holding OpenAI and Iran accountable for the breach.
Moreover, this incident proves once again that Iran cannot be trusted—not with nuclear weapons, not with international platforms, and certainly not with access to American AI.
For a regime that wants to bomb its neighbors into oblivion, Iran sure seems eager to use the West’s most powerful technologies. It’s time to pull the plug.
