In the wake of devastating coordinated Israeli and American strikes on a military compound in Tehran, which reportedly claimed the lives of dozens of senior regime figures, including Iran’s supreme leader, Ali al-Khamenei, the Iranian government swiftly plunged the nation into a near-total internet blackout. This immediate and severe measure effectively severed the country from the global digital sphere, a tactic that, for seasoned observers, was chillingly familiar.
The Echo of Silence: Journalism Under Digital Siege
Mostafa Zadeh, an international journalist based in Tehran, recounted to WIRED Middle East his lack of surprise at both the strikes and the subsequent digital shutdown. “It’s very similar to the state’s response to the January security crackdown, and even the bouts of unrest that came before,” Zadeh noted, highlighting a recurring pattern of internet disruption during times of crisis, invariably justified by “security issues.”
While the government’s stated aim is to thwart communication between Israeli intelligence operatives and their contacts within Iran, the heaviest burden of this policy falls squarely on the shoulders of journalists and local media workers. Stripped of their most fundamental tools, they face an agonizing dilemma: find perilous ways to circumvent the restrictions, risking arrest and severe penalties, or succumb to silence, leaving the world blind to unfolding events.
A Costly Silence: The Price of Information
“Journalists pay the heaviest price,” Zadeh lamented. “The right of information is always the first casualty when the government prioritizes its security objectives.” This sentiment underscores the profound impact of such blackouts, not just on reporting, but on the fundamental right of citizens to be informed.
A History of Digital Darkness
The current disruption is not an isolated incident. During the widespread protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022, authorities repeatedly throttled or partially severed internet connections to stifle communication and coordination among demonstrators. Eyewitness accounts draw stark parallels between the present shutdown and a similar blackout four years prior, when families were cut off from loved ones, protesters isolated, and the international community left in the dark.
Zadeh, having anticipated such a scenario, had arranged a five-day trip to Turkey during a February shutdown to continue his work. However, he wasn’t always so fortunate. During the 12-day Iran-Israel war in 2025, a previous blackout left his American newspaper editor fearing the worst, as contact was lost.
The Starlink Dilemma: A Double-Edged Sword
Despite having access to a Starlink connection this time, Zadeh made the difficult decision not to use it. “The risk of Iranian intelligence detecting the satellite signal and tracing it back was too great,” he explained. “An arrest on those grounds could bring charges of treason or espionage.” Many of his colleagues reportedly made the same choice, though some, driven by defiance, chose otherwise.
This heightened caution is well-founded. Late 2025 saw Iran enact sweeping legal changes, significantly tightening its espionage laws. Under these revised provisions, individuals accused of spying, particularly for Israel or the United States, now face the grim prospect of the death penalty and confiscation of their assets.
Reporting Under Siege: Innovative Strategies
In the face of such formidable obstacles, Iranian journalists and activists have developed ingenious strategies to bypass censorship and relay information to the outside world. These include the use of encrypted messaging apps like Signal and Threema, international phone calls, SMS, and citizen-shot videos meticulously smuggled out in encrypted formats.
Eyes in the Sky: The Role of Satellite Imagery
Erfan Khorshidi, who directs a human rights organization from outside Iran with a substantial team in Tehran, revealed a critical development: ahead of the January protests, his group smuggled Starlink terminals to dissidents. For the first time, his team could transmit reports, videos, and photos in near real-time. “It’s the only means that allows rights organizations to relay accurate and reliable information to the outside world,” Khorshidi asserted, emphasizing how Starlink has filled “massive gaps in the documentation of human rights violations” previously caused by blackouts.
Beyond direct communication, media organizations and rights groups operating in Iran increasingly rely on high-resolution imagery from commercial providers such as Maxar Technologies and Planet Labs, complemented by data from the European Space Agency’s Copernicus program.
Baqir Salehi, an Iranian journalist collaborating with a European news outlet, confirmed the pivotal role of satellite imagery in his newsroom’s reporting, despite its inherent limitations. By comparing before-and-after images of specific locations, reporters can identify damaged buildings, vehicles, and debris. However, Salehi maintains a strict ethical boundary: “That distinction,” he states, “is a line I refuse to cross. I always note the margin of error, and never publish numerical casualty estimates based on satellite imagery alone.” Instead, he uses these images to establish the scale of destruction, rigorously corroborating findings with testimony and additional evidence.
Piecing Together the Puzzle: Geolocation and Verification
Another sophisticated method involves teams operating outside the blackout zone continuously recording official channels. This footage is then meticulously dissected frame by frame, searching for visible markers like street signs or background ridgelines. These extracted visual fragments are subsequently geolocated and cross-referenced with satellite imagery to confirm the location and approximate timing of military events. Such verified footage can then be safely transmitted into affected regions or shared globally, offering crucial insights into events unfolding within the digital darkness.
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