Several Iranian state television channels were hacked on Sunday, broadcasting anti-regime messages and footage of protests, according to reports by the opposition outlet Iran International.
The channels, which are carried on the Badr satellite network, aired clips from demonstrations alongside calls by Iran's exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, the son of the deposed shah, urging citizens to join the protests and members of the security forces to side with the demonstrators.
IRAN STATE TV HACKED pic.twitter.com/Gca7xrqya0
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) January 18, 2026
Iran's state broadcasting authority relies on the Badr satellite to transmit a number of regional television channels across the country. The breach appeared to affect multiple outlets simultaneously, giving viewers rare access to opposition messaging on official state platforms.
In recent days, there has been growing speculation that the US could carry out cyberattacks against Iranian infrastructure as part of a response to the regime's harsh crackdown on protesters. No official confirmation has been issued yet regarding who was responsible for the hack.
Iran has been without internet access for the past 10 days, with some 92 million citizens cut off from digital services. The blackout has been accompanied by disruptions to phone lines and text messaging, further isolating the population.
The Iranian government shut down the internet in an effort to suppress the protests, prevent renewed organization by demonstrators, and limit international scrutiny of the methods used to disperse crowds. Since then, much of the country has been plunged into near-total information blackout, with only a small number of people managing to maintain contact with the outside world, mainly through services such as Starlink or by using VPNs and encrypted platforms.
Meanwhile, despite a reported easing in regional tensions, the US continues to deploy forces in the Middle East. The Navy's largest aircraft carrier is making its way toward the region as part of the buildup.
At the center of this military buildup is the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and its strike group, which is en route from the South China Sea to the area of responsibility of US Central Command. The carrier was spotted on Sunday in the Malacca Strait at the entrance to the Indian Ocean, according to maritime tracking applications and open-source reporting. This indicates that the carrier is expected to reach the Persian Gulf area later this week.
