Journalists in Iran Navigate Internet Blackouts to Report Amidst Government Crackdowns

Within hours of a significant geopolitical event, the Iranian government imposed a near-total internet blackout, effectively severing the country from the outside world. Mostafa Zadeh, an international journalist based in Tehran, was not surprised by the blackout, noting that the government has a history of cutting internet access during crises, often citing security concerns. The primary aim is to prevent communication between Israeli intelligence and contacts within Iran. However, this policy heavily impacts journalists and local media workers, who lose access to essential tools needed for reporting.

Journalists, activists, and citizens documenting events face a dilemma: find ways around the restrictions and risk arrest, or remain silent. Zadeh highlights that journalists bear the brunt of these measures, as the right to information is often sacrificed for security objectives. During protests following Mahsa Amini's death in September 2022, authorities repeatedly disrupted internet connections to hinder communication and coordination among protesters, drawing parallels to similar shutdowns in the past.

During a recent shutdown, Zadeh was prepared by arranging a trip to Turkey to continue his work. However, during a previous 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, he lost contact with his American newspaper, causing concern for his safety. Despite having access to a Starlink connection, Zadeh refrained from using it due to the risk of detection by Iranian intelligence, which could lead to charges of treason or espionage.

Iranian journalists and activists employ various strategies to circumvent these restrictions, including encrypted messaging apps, international phone calls, SMS, and smuggling citizen-shot videos out of the country in encrypted form. Erfan Khorshidi, who runs a human rights organization from outside Iran, has facilitated the smuggling of Starlink terminals to dissidents, allowing for near real-time transmission of reports and media.

To fill gaps left by internet blackouts, media organizations and rights groups rely on high-resolution satellite imagery from commercial providers and medium-resolution data from the European Space Agency. Baqir Salehi, an Iranian journalist working with a European outlet, emphasizes the importance of satellite imagery in reporting, although it has limitations. He uses images to assess the scale of destruction and corroborates them with testimonies and additional evidence.

Salehi and his team also analyze official footage for visual markers to geolocate and verify events. They maintain original copies of files and generate cryptographic hashes to ensure authenticity. Video content is often compressed or replaced with still frames, and files are sent in segments to be reassembled outside Iran. When this is not feasible, encrypted messages with key details are used.

Operating under these conditions requires significant effort. Salehi's newsroom coordinates numerous informal correspondents to verify and transfer information accurately and swiftly. Khorshidi's team faces increased scrutiny and must frequently relocate Starlink devices to avoid detection by Iranian intelligence, exposing them to potential arrest and severe consequences.

Amnesty International reports that Iran executed over 1,000 people in 2025, with at least 15 executions related to espionage accusations. Khorshidi expresses concern for his team members' safety as they travel to maintain information flow, acknowledging the risks involved in their efforts to report on the ground realities in Iran.