Iran’s state television network briefly lost control of one of its main channels on Wednesday after hackers interrupted programming and aired a message from Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi calling on the Iranian military to side with protesters against the Islamic Republic.
Channel Two of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) was reportedly hijacked for several minutes, during which Pahlavi urged military personnel to join the Iranian people in opposing the regime, according to reports from Iran International.
The disruption comes just days after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted two IRIB complexes in Tehran. The strikes reportedly killed and injured several employees and temporarily knocked radio and television broadcasts off the air.
Following the explosions, which were visible across parts of Tehran, broadcasts resumed from an alternate studio near the Jame Jam district. A presenter told viewers that the network had come under U.S. and Israeli attack before programming returned, though technical problems and reduced scheduling continued afterward.
This is not the first time Iranian state broadcasts have been disrupted. In January, anti-regime activists reportedly hacked Iran’s Badr satellite, allowing them to transmit Pahlavi’s calls for protests and messages encouraging Iran’s military and security forces to support demonstrators.
Meanwhile, Iranian authorities appear to be tightening control over the country’s information flow. According to reports, some citizens have received warning messages threatening legal action if they access international internet services.
The messages reportedly warn that continued use of the global internet could result in blocked service and referral to judicial authorities, underscoring the regime’s efforts to maintain control of public messaging amid growing unrest.
