While ordinary Iranians are still cut off from the world by the longest internet blackout in Iran's history, the regime itself is working hard to spread its narrative of the protests that have gripped the country.

Tehran

DW News reports on the Iranian regime's response to recent protests, focusing on the state's use of propaganda and the portrayal of mourning for security forces allegedly killed by protesters. The report notes that the government blames foreign powers for the unrest and amplifies voices supportive of the regime, while most Iranians remain cut off from the outside world due to information blackouts.

Experts cited in the report estimate that only a small minority of Iranians remain loyal to the regime, many due to traditional or economic ties. Despite the current suppression of protests, analysts suggest that a change in leadership could trigger internal conflict and potentially weaken the regime's control, especially if the information blackout ends and more of Iran's reality is revealed.

Iran's protests in the eyes of the regime

These are the images the Islamic Republic wants the world to see. Crowds of people out on the streets of Tehran, mourning security forces allegedly killed by violent protesters. And blaming foreign powers for it. Our people don't shoot their fellow citizens. That's a foreign way of thinking. That's the US and Israeli way of thinking. They should be identified by the Iranian intelligence services and be given the death penalty. While most Iranians are still cut off from the world, these people are able to make their voices heard in what experts say is a playbook example of the regime's propaganda. These images of the funerals where you have many clerics standing are there to show Iranians that this is the authentic pious Muslim Shia Iranian society that is mourning. I think it's a minority and it's a shrinking minority. But of course you have families that are traditionally and also economically allied with the regime, with its institutions, with the Revolutionary Guard. It's probably 10% of the population, but it's very, very difficult to say. A shrinking minority of supporters and a powerful security apparatus brutally cracking down on the majority. The Islamic Republic appears to have managed to suppress the protests once again. For now. However, experts point to one factor that could change the equation. If Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei dies a natural death or is assassinated by the United States in an airstrike or something similar, then we could potentially expect an infighting, which in turn would undermine the ability of the regime to react in a coherent way against the protesters and various sections of society which are waiting for the opportune moment to rise against the regime. For now, the blackout keeps much of Iran's reality out of view. But when it ends, the world will get to see more of what the regime is trying to hide.

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Breakdown