Hackers Hijack Iranian State TV to Air Message Backing Exiled Crown Prince
Hackers briefly disrupted Iran’s state television broadcasts to air footage supporting exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, urging security forces not to turn their weapons on civilians, amid an intensifying crackdown on nationwide protests.
According to online footage that surfaced early Monday, satellite transmissions of several channels operated by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting were interrupted on Sunday night. The broadcast featured clips of Pahlavi alongside images of individuals in what appeared to be Iranian security uniforms, accompanied by messages calling on forces to “join the nation for the freedom of Iran.”
One graphic message addressed to the military and security agencies read: “Don’t point your weapons at the people.” The broadcast also claimed, without providing evidence, that some personnel had laid down their arms and pledged allegiance to the public.
Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guard, quoted the state broadcaster as confirming that signals in parts of the country were “momentarily disrupted by an unknown source,” without elaborating on the content aired.
Pahlavi’s office acknowledged the disruption that featured the exiled royal figure but declined to comment on the hacking incident. While the level of his support inside Iran remains unclear, chants backing the former monarchy have been reported during recent demonstrations and nighttime protests.
The broadcast disruption comes as activists report a sharp rise in the death toll from the government’s crackdown on protests, which began late last year over Iran’s struggling economy. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said at least 3,941 people have been killed so far, warning the figure could increase as information continues to emerge despite internet shutdowns across the country. Iranian authorities have yet to release an official death toll.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said over the weekend that “several thousand” people had died, blaming the United States for the unrest. The agency also reported that more than 25,700 people have been arrested, raising fears of mass executions in a country already known for high rates of capital punishment.
Tensions between Tehran and Washington have escalated following the crackdown. US President Donald Trump warned Iran against killing peaceful protesters or carrying out mass executions. Amid the standoff, ship-tracking data showed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and accompanying warships transiting the Strait of Malacca, a route that could take them toward the Middle East.
Diplomatic fallout has also followed. The World Economic Forum withdrew an invitation for Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to speak at its annual meeting in Davos, citing the civilian deaths. Iran’s ambassador to Switzerland condemned the decision as politically motivated, while the Munich Security Conference also rescinded invitations to Iranian officials.
Sunday’s hacking marks the latest in a series of disruptions to Iranian broadcasts over the years. Similar incidents have previously aired messages from exiled opposition groups, underscoring the growing digital front in Iran’s ongoing political crisis.
