Iran Allegedly Broadcasts 97 Forced Confessions During Unprecedented Internet Blackout

The Iranian regime has allegedly broadcast 97 coerced confessions from detained protesters on state television in just over two weeks, according to human rights groups monitoring the ongoing crisis. These broadcasts coincide with Iran experiencing its longest internet blackout on record, effectively cutting citizens off from independent information sources.

The televised confessions feature handcuffed detainees with blurred faces expressing remorse for their participation in protests that began on December 28. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), these videos are set to ominous music and include edited footage showing attacks on security forces.

Rights organizations claim these confessions are obtained under duress. “The regime’s broadcast of so-called confessions by detained protesters is a threadbare and worn tactic,” said Ali Safavi, a senior official with the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). “Time and time again, the henchmen drag arrested demonstrators before cameras under the threat of torture and execution, coercing them to recant their beliefs or invent absurd stories.”

The nationwide protests erupted from public anger over political repression, economic collapse, and alleged abuses by security forces. Despite mass arrests, lethal force, and severe restrictions on communication, demonstrations have spread across major Iranian cities.

According to Safavi, the confessions serve a dual purpose for the regime. “First, they are meant to justify the mass slaughter of protesters, no fewer than 3,000, which NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi has stated constitute manifest crimes against humanity,” he explained. “These forced confessions are designed to demoralize the Iranian people and sow fear and doubt.”

HRANA, a U.S.-based organization, has warned that forced confessions in Iran typically follow psychological or physical torture and can lead to severe consequences, including death sentences. “These rights violations compound on top of each other and lead to horrific outcomes,” said Skylar Thompson, HRANA’s deputy director, who noted that the scale of these broadcasts is unprecedented.

The confession campaign runs parallel to a sweeping internet shutdown that has now surpassed 144 consecutive hours. NetBlocks, an internet monitoring organization, confirmed this represents one of the longest disruptions ever recorded in the country.

“The shutdown is still ongoing, making it one of the longest blackouts on record,” said Isik Mater, NetBlocks’ director of research. “State TV continues to operate normally via satellite transmission, which does not depend on the public internet, which means households can still watch Iranian state channels even during a near-total shutdown.”

The information blackout significantly amplifies the impact of state propaganda, as citizens have few alternative sources of information. Mater compared Iran’s current information strategy to that of North Korea. “While the public is cut off, the state relies on broadcast media and its domestic National Information Network to control what people see,” she said. “A useful comparison is North Korea where the vast majority of citizens there have little to no access to the global internet, yet the state TV and radio broadcast regime propaganda 24/7.”

The internet restrictions appear highly selective rather than universal. Senior officials and state institutions maintain connectivity through “whitelisted networks” and private links, allowing regime figures like Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to continue posting on global social media platforms.

“This is why Ali Khamenei and other government officials continue posting on global social media platforms during the blackout, enabling the regime to shape the narrative internationally while citizens are unable to document events or even respond,” Mater explained.

The G7 nations have threatened Iran with new sanctions over its crackdown on protesters, which human rights groups claim has resulted in thousands of deaths. Despite these international pressures and the regime’s escalating efforts to control the narrative, observers like Safavi believe the tactics will ultimately fail. “No amount of televised coercion or repression will break the protesters’ resolve,” he said.