Iran war expands press crackdown, leaving information vacuum

Iran's judiciary and security apparatus have intensified press restrictions since the February 2026 onset of the US-Israel war, with Reporters Without Borders documenting internet blackouts, threatened journalists, and selective access to global connectivity, while state media monopolizes the narrative on strike locations and civilian impact. Anonymous Iranian journalists told Deutsche Welle that editorial control has tightened, independent reporting near sensitive sites risks detention, and exiled diaspora members face property confiscation threats under laws strengthened during wartime.