On the night of January 18th, the Iranian state broadcasting network (IRIB) was hacked and aired a speech clip of the exiled crown prince of Iran in the United States, stating that the people’s protests have received support from the United States and Europe. At the same time, an American aircraft carrier seemed to be heading towards the Persian Gulf region.
On Sunday night, January 18th, several television channels broadcasted through the Badr satellite of the Iranian state broadcasting network suddenly displayed anti-government information with the title “Real News of the Iranian National Revolution,” saying it was important information for Iranian President Pezeshkiyan.
The Persian subtitles on the TV screen read: “President Trump has repeatedly promised to support the Iranian people in their struggle against the Islamic regime, and Europe stands with us. The regime will do everything to keep you ignorant, but please understand one thing: America is with you.”
The hackers stated: “Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi is our voice. He will bring global support to us.”
Following this, the TV screen played several recent speeches by Crown Prince Pahlavi, saying, “You must have heard the message from the U.S. President by now. Help is on the way,” and “I have a special message for the military personnel: you are Iran’s national army, not the army of the Islamic Republic. You have a responsibility to protect the lives of your compatriots. Your time is running out, stand with the people as soon as possible.”
The subtitles on the TV screen then displayed: “The oppressors are retreating from the centers of all major cities, and tens of thousands of armed forces have laid down their weapons and sworn allegiance to the people.”
The entire TV interruption process lasted for a few minutes. Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency quoted a statement from the state broadcasting network, admitting that “signals in some areas were temporarily disrupted by an unknown source.” The statement did not mention the specific content broadcasted.
This is the largest-scale incident of a national media signal interruption in Iran in recent years.
In 2022, several Iranian TV channels aired an image of a leader of an exiled opposition group and pictures calling for the execution of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In the past week, due to the Iranian authorities’ continued brutal suppression over three days, the streets of the country appeared relatively quiet, but the tension between the Iranian authorities and the United States has not eased.
According to analysis by the Associated Press on Monday, January 19th, vessel tracking data indicated that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier had passed through Singapore and entered the Strait of Malacca on the night of the 18th, possibly heading towards the Middle East region.
President Trump has set two red lines for Iran: killing peaceful protesters and carrying out large-scale executions of protesters after protests.
The exact number of deaths caused by the Iranian authorities’ crackdown is still unclear. An Iranian official who declined to be named told Reuters that the confirmed death toll exceeds 5,000, including 500 members of the security forces.
This figure far surpasses the death toll caused by the authorities’ crackdown on protests in 2022 and 2009.
Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Ebrahim Azizi, stated on the 19th that the Supreme Security Council would decide in the coming days to restore the internet, and the network would be restored when “security conditions permit.”
Another lawmaker, hardliner Hamid Rasaei, said that the authorities should listen to Supreme Leader Khamenei’s previous dissatisfaction about the “relaxation in cyberspace.”
Iran’s internet shutdown has lasted for over ten days. During the largest days of protests, the country’s communications were virtually halted, including internet and international phone lines. Since then, the blockade has partially lifted, and people can now make international calls.
As the internet blockade is lifted, more death cases may come to light. The U.S.-based human rights activist group, HRANA, stated that the confirmed death toll is 3,919 people, with another 8,949 death cases under investigation. Additionally, 2,109 people are severely injured, and 24,669 people have been arrested.