U.S. diplomatic cables: Iran war undermines Washington’s standing in Azerbaijan and across the Muslim world

The war with Iran is damaging the United States’ global standing and eroding its reputation, particularly in Muslim-majority countries, according to State Department cables reviewed by Politico.

The documents, sent on April 15 from U.S. embassies in Azerbaijan, Bahrain and Indonesia, point to a deterioration in perceptions of the United States and growing pressure on Washington in the information space.

According to U.S. diplomats, the country is facing an active campaign by pro-Iranian actors who are effectively using digital platforms to promote their narratives and shape a negative image of the United States.

In Azerbaijan, a cable from the U.S. Embassy in Baku notes that bilateral relations, which had shown notable improvement in recent months, have “at best plateaued and appear to be faltering.” Diplomats link this shift in part to changes in the media environment: while local outlets initially maintained a restrained tone after the outbreak of the conflict, criticism of the United States and Israel intensified in April.

At the same time, negative sentiment toward Washington has not translated into increased support for Iran. The cable emphasizes that a significant portion of Azerbaijani society remains distant from Tehran, reflecting the country’s largely secular outlook.

Similar trends are observed elsewhere. In Bahrain, which hosts the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, public doubts about the reliability of American support have grown. According to the cable from Manama, there is a perception that Washington has prioritized protecting Israel while leaving its allies exposed to Iranian threats.

In Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, diplomats warn of potential risks to bilateral cooperation. If anti-U.S. sentiment continues to rise, it could constrain the government’s room for maneuver in maintaining defense ties with Washington.

The cables also highlight the information battle surrounding the conflict. U.S. diplomats say their ability to respond is limited: embassies have been instructed not to produce original public content about the war and are largely restricted to sharing approved messaging from Washington. This, they argue, weakens the U.S. position compared to Iran’s more agile and proactive media strategy.

The documents include calls for greater flexibility for U.S. missions, particularly in social media, to more effectively counter negative narratives.

Commenting on the situation, a State Department spokesperson said the administration’s actions are aimed at strengthening global security and preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, adding that the policy has full support within the government.