Iran’s state television network was briefly hijacked by anti-regime activists who aired protest messages and a video address by exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, prompting renewed calls for nationwide demonstrations
Iran’s state television network was briefly disrupted on Sunday when anti-regime activists hijacked a broadcast feed. The incident affected the
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting network and allowed unauthorised content to air across the country for several minutes.
Local media reported that the disruption affected channels transmitted through Iran’s Badr satellite. During the interruption, messages were broadcast calling for renewed protests against the Islamic Republic. A video appeal from exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi was also aired.
Footage of the broadcast was later shared by Pahlavi’s media team and circulated on social media. The authenticity of the footage has not been independently verified.
ویدئوی دیگری از هک شبکههای تلویزیونی رژیم جمهوری اسلامی با تصاویر انقلاب ملی ایران و پیامهای شاهزاده رضا پهلوی pic.twitter.com/wHvvrynalp
— Reza Pahlavi Communications (@PahlaviComms) January 18, 2026
Protest video and appeal to security forces
The broadcast, which aired at around 9:30 pm local time, appeared to include messages in Farsi urging Iranians to continue demonstrations. It also showed clips of solidarity protests held abroad and statements of support from international figures.
The transmission then showed a recorded address by Pahlavi calling on citizens to maintain pressure on the authorities. According to
Iran International, he also appealed directly to Iran’s military and security forces, urging them to side with protesters rather than the government.
Israel’s public broadcaster KAN News reported that the hacked transmission lasted about 10 minutes.
Fresh calls to return to the streets
The broadcast followed renewed calls by Pahlavi for people to resume protests after a brief lull. In a message posted on X a day earlier, he urged Iranians to gather again over a three-day period.
“Raise your voices of anger and protest,” he wrote, adding that “the world sees your courage and will offer clearer and more practical support to your national revolution”.
Opposition figures have accused Iranian authorities of using lethal force to suppress unrest. They allege the deployment of heavily armed security units and, according to Pahlavi, foreign militia fighters. Iranian officials deny the claims and blame armed opposition groups and foreign adversaries for the violence.
Conflicting casualty figures
A day earlier, Pahlavi had urged the resumption of nationwide protests following reports from an Iranian official that at least 5,000 people had been killed during the unrest. In another post on X, he again called for demonstrations over a three-day period.
According to Pahlavi, more than 12,000 Iranians have been killed since the unrest began. This figure is far higher than official estimates and those cited by rights groups.
“The battle in Iran today is not between reform and revolution, it is between occupation and liberation. And the Iranian people have already chosen their side,” he said.
“Their heads are bloodied but unbound. Despite the lies you’re hearing from the regime, its bloodlust has not diminished. The slaughter has not stopped,” he added in another post.
Protests began on December 28 and spread across Iran. Some of the most violent clashes were reported in Kurdish regions in the northwest, where separatist groups are active.
Residents said a heavy security presence has since forced demonstrators off the streets in many cities, though tensions remain high.
Iran’s state television relies on the Badr satellite to transmit programmes to provincial channels nationwide. Authorities have not issued an official statement on the breach or said what steps have been taken to prevent a repeat.
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