How Journalists Are Reporting From Iran With No Internet

"The Iranian government's primary concern is preventing communication between Israeli intelligence operatives and any contacts inside the country. But the policy's heaviest burden falls on journalists and local media workers who lose access to their most basic tools."

"Journalists pay the heaviest price. The right of information is always the first casualty when the government [prioritizes] its security objectives."

"It's very similar to the state's response to the January security crackdown, and even the bouts of unrest that came before. The government has routinely cut internet access during crises, typically citing security issues as the cause."

Following coordinated Israeli and American military strikes on a Tehran compound that killed senior Iranian regime figures including Supreme Leader Ali al-Khamenei, Iran's government implemented a near-total internet blackout. This action severed both mobile and fixed-line connections, isolating the country from external communication. Tehran-based journalist Mostafa Zadeh notes this response mirrors previous government actions during security crises, including the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests. The government justifies such blackouts as security measures to prevent Israeli intelligence communication with internal contacts. However, the policy disproportionately affects journalists and media workers who lose access to essential reporting tools. Citizens and journalists face difficult choices between risking arrest to circumvent restrictions or remaining silent about ground-level events.

Read at WIRED