“Journalists are working under missile fire and receiving threatening phone calls from the authorities,” said one independent reporter quoted by RSF, requesting anonymity. He added that the pressure from regime representatives on the media has intensified since the announcement of the death of Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Why is the Internet blocked in Iran?
What is the repression of journalists in Iran?
Where does Iran rank in the press freedom index?
How many people are in custody in Iran?
Independent journalists 'have no right to work'
Another journalist from Tehran said that currently “no independent journalist has the right to work.” “Even those reporters who, with the government's permission, went to the areas affected by the attacks were detained and all the photos they took were deleted,” he reported.
Iranian state television has broadcast the government's statement several times in recent days that any activity deemed “beneficial to the enemy” will be severely punished. Covering events in Iran by independent journalists is considered such activity.
The cybersecurity monitoring organization NetBlocks reported on Wednesday that the Internet blockade introduced by the regime has been ongoing for over 100 hours. “Data shows internet connectivity dropping to 1% of normal levels as conflict escalates in the region,” NetBlocks said. This means that over 90 million citizens have been cut off from the outside world and have limited communication and access to news.
The head of RSF's Middle East Bureau, Jonathan Dagher, said on Tuesday that “access to reliable information about the war is more important than ever – both regionally and internationally. Although the situation is unstable and marked by violence, respecting the right to information remains an obligation.” As he emphasized, “the safety of journalists is not negotiable. War must under no circumstances impede the work of the press.”
Iran is at the gray end of the ranking
RSF and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on the Iranian authorities to immediately release journalists currently detained or imprisoned. The CJP reported on Tuesday that at least 15 media workers remain behind bars.
In RSF's annual press freedom report in 2025, Iran ranked 176th out of 180 countries. Thus, it strengthened the position of one of the most repressive countries in the world in terms of freedom of speech and media.
In October 2025, Iranian authorities tightened regulations on espionage. The new law allows for the death penalty to be imposed for actions including allegedly sharing information and cooperating with “hostile states,” including Israel and the United States.
