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Iranian State TV Hacked, Broadcasts Message Supporting Exiled Crown Prince
Hackers disrupted Iranian state television satellite transmissions early Monday, airing footage supporting the country’s exiled crown prince and urging security forces not to “point your weapons at the people,” according to footage circulating online.
The digital intrusion comes amid escalating tensions following nationwide protests in Iran, where a brutal government crackdown has resulted in at least 3,919 deaths, according to human rights activists. Experts fear the actual death toll could be significantly higher as information slowly emerges from a country where authorities have imposed an internet shutdown.
The hacked broadcast appeared across multiple channels operated by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the state-run media organization that holds a monopoly on television and radio broadcasting in the country. The unauthorized transmission included two clips of exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi alongside footage of individuals in what appeared to be Iranian police uniforms.
“This is a message to the army and security forces,” read one graphic during the broadcast. “Don’t point your weapons at the people. Join the nation for the freedom of Iran.”
Fars news agency, considered close to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, acknowledged in a statement that the broadcasting signal “in some areas of the country was momentarily disrupted by an unknown source,” though it avoided mentioning the content that aired during the interruption.
In the broadcast, Pahlavi directly addressed Iranian military personnel: “I have a special message for the military. You are the national army of Iran, not the Islamic Republic army. You have a duty to protect your own lives. You don’t have much time left. Join the people as soon as possible.”
This isn’t the first time Iranian airwaves have been compromised. In 1986, The Washington Post reported that the CIA had provided Pahlavi’s allies with “a miniaturized television transmitter” to briefly hijack Iranian television signals. More recently, in 2022, hackers broadcast footage featuring leaders from the exiled opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, accompanied by graphics calling for the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Pahlavi, whose father Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi fled Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has been vocal in supporting the recent protests. On January 8, he urged demonstrators to take to the streets as Iranian authorities intensified their crackdown. While pro-shah chants have been heard during demonstrations, the extent of Pahlavi’s current support within Iran remains unclear.
Meanwhile, U.S.-Iran relations have grown increasingly tense. President Donald Trump has established two red lines for the Islamic Republic – the killing of peaceful protesters and the conducting of mass executions following the demonstrations.
Adding to the regional tensions, ship-tracking data analyzed by the Associated Press shows the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, along with other American military vessels, has entered the Strait of Malacca after passing Singapore – potentially en route to the Middle East. The Lincoln, previously stationed in the South China Sea as a deterrent to China amid Taiwan tensions, is traveling with three Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers: USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., USS Michael Murphy, and USS Spruance.
If the carrier group is indeed headed to the Middle East, it would still be several days before its aircraft would be within operational range of the region. The absence of an aircraft carrier group or amphibious ready group in the area has likely complicated discussions about potential military operations targeting Iran, particularly given Gulf Arab states’ broad opposition to such attacks.
The death toll from Iran’s protest crackdown now exceeds that of any other period of unrest in the country in decades, reminiscent of the chaos surrounding the 1979 revolution. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has maintained accurate casualty counts throughout years of demonstrations in Iran through its network of in-country activists, warns that its current count of 3,919 fatalities will likely increase.
Iranian officials have not provided a clear death toll, though on Saturday, Khamenei acknowledged that the protests had left “several thousand” people dead, blaming the United States for the casualties. This marked the first indication from an Iranian leader about the scale of casualties since the demonstrations began on December 28 over Iran’s deteriorating economy.
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10 Comments
The ability of hackers to infiltrate Iran’s state TV and broadcast pro-monarchy messaging is quite remarkable. This demonstrates the power of digital activism to challenge authoritarian regimes and their information control. I’m curious to see if this inspires further acts of digital civil disobedience.
You raise a good point. This hack could embolden other activists to test the limits of Iran’s digital defenses and find creative ways to bypass state censorship. The government will likely view this as a serious threat to their control over the narrative.
While I don’t condone the hacking of state media, the message broadcast in support of the exiled crown prince is an interesting development. It speaks to the growing digital resistance against the Iranian regime and their crackdown on dissent. I wonder what the long-term impact of this event will be on the political dynamics within the country.
You’re right, the hacking itself is concerning, but the content of the broadcast raises important questions about the evolving political landscape in Iran. It will be crucial to monitor how the government responds and whether this leads to further digital confrontations between the regime and its opposition.
The hacking of Iran’s state TV is a bold and provocative move that demonstrates the vulnerability of state-controlled media to digital disruption. While I don’t condone the use of unauthorized intrusions, the message broadcast in support of the exiled crown prince is a striking challenge to the regime’s information control. This event highlights the ongoing power struggle between the government and its critics in the digital realm.
You raise a good point. This hack could embolden other activists to test the limits of Iran’s digital defenses and find creative ways to bypass state censorship. The government will likely view this as a serious threat to their control over the narrative and may respond with even tighter restrictions on internet access and media.
The hacking of Iran’s state TV is a bold and provocative move. While I don’t support the use of unauthorized digital intrusions, the message broadcast in support of the exiled crown prince is a striking challenge to the regime’s information control. This event highlights the ongoing power struggle between the government and its critics in the digital realm.
Exactly, this hack represents a significant escalation in the battle for narrative control in Iran. The government will likely view this as a serious threat and may respond with even tighter restrictions on internet access and media. It will be important to see how this dynamic unfolds in the coming weeks and months.
Interesting that hackers were able to breach Iran’s state TV broadcast. This shows the vulnerabilities of state-controlled media and the potential impact of digital disruptions. I wonder what the long-term implications of this event will be for the country’s information landscape.
This type of hacking could escalate tensions even further in the region. It will be important to monitor how the Iranian government responds and if they take steps to strengthen their cybersecurity measures.