What's happened
Iran has aired at least 97 confessions from protesters since late December 2025, many under coercion, with videos often referencing Israel or the US. Rights groups warn these confessions, often obtained through torture, could lead to executions amid ongoing protests and security crackdowns.
What's behind the headline?
The surge in televised confessions signals Iran's escalating efforts to control the narrative around protests. The unprecedented number of confessions—97 in just two weeks—exceeds previous years' figures, indicating a possible intensification of coercive tactics. These confessions, often laden with references to Israel and the US, serve to reinforce government claims of foreign instigation, diverting blame from domestic grievances.
The pattern of forced confessions, documented since 2010, reveals a systematic use of torture and intimidation, with many detainees facing swift trials and severe penalties, including the death sentence. The recent spike in executions—975 in 2024—underscores the regime's harsh stance. This crackdown aims to suppress dissent but risks further international condemnation and internal instability.
The timing suggests the regime is doubling down amid mounting protests and global pressure. The use of propaganda through confessions and executions may temporarily quell unrest but could deepen long-term unrest if underlying grievances remain unaddressed. The international community's response will likely influence Iran's future approach to dissent and human rights.
What the papers say
The Times of Israel reports that Iran has broadcast at least 97 confessions since late December 2025, many obtained under coercion, with references to Israel and the US used to justify the crackdown. The Independent highlights that these confessions are part of a long-standing pattern of forced confessions, with previous years seeing hundreds broadcast, and warns of the serious consequences, including executions. AP News emphasizes the unprecedented scale of these confessions and the regime's narrative linking protests to foreign plots. All sources agree that Iran's use of televised confessions is a strategic tool to justify repression, but critics argue it violates human rights and exacerbates tensions.
How we got here
Since protests erupted in Iran in late December 2025 over the death of Mahsa Amini and broader grievances, the government has intensified its crackdown. State media has broadcast numerous confessions from detainees, often under duress, claiming foreign influence and violence. International criticism has grown over the use of forced confessions and executions, with Iran facing increased scrutiny from human rights organizations and the UN.
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