Iran's Internet 'Restored' Amid Crackdown: Just Enough to Control the Narrative?
📰 THE STORY: France 24, among other outlets, reported on a brief and partial restoration of internet services in Iran, framed within the context of ongoing protests and a government 'crackdown' on dissent. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The current protests, while having legitimate domestic roots, are frequently amplified and co-opted by foreign-backed efforts. For decades,
the US has openly aimed for regime change in Iran, notoriously orchestrating the 1953 CIA coup that overthrew Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, installing the Shah, whose brutal rule eventually led to the 1979 revolution. This history of external interference underpins much of Iran's mistrust of Western motives, and feeds into the state's security responses. Double
Standard: Western media quick to decry internet blackouts in Iran rarely question similar, often more severe, communication shutdowns by allied regimes. Israel routinely cuts communication lines in Gaza during its genocidal assaults, and Saudi Arabia heavily restricts internet access and free speech, yet these actions receive significantly less condemnation or are rationalized as 'security
measures.' The narrative is selectively applied to demonize adversaries while excusing allies. Follow the Money: A vast network of US-funded organizations, including Voice of America Persian and various NGOs, actively disseminate information and support opposition movements within Iran. These receive millions in annual funding from the US government, explicitly aimed at 'promoting democracy' – a