Iran tightens media crackdown with raids, financial pressure
New York, February 9, 2026 —The Committee to Protect Journalists demands that Iranian authorities halt their ongoing attacks and harassment of journalists and media workers and roll back punitive measures used to silence reporting, including raids, equipment seizures, financial pressure, and restrictions on communications.
Azadeh Mokhtari, a social affairs editor at the Rokna news website, was subjected to a security raid at her home in early February, during which Iranian security forces seized her work equipment and personal documents, including her mobile phone, laptop, SIM cards, passport, national ID card, and birth certificate. Mokhtari confirmed the raid in a February 10 post on Instagram, saying her electronics were returned, but “the judicial process is still ongoing.”
Separately, Mohammad Parsi, editor-in-chief of the literary publication Kandoo, has been unreachable since February 8, following a telephone summons by police. Security agents also reportedly raided Parsi’s home, confiscating electronic devices belonging to him and his family. Parsi has faced repeated judicial harassment in the past, including a fine in July 2023 for his reporting on Nika Shakarami, a teenager killed during the 2022 nationwide protests.
On February 3, freelance journalist Kianoosh Darvishi, who previously worked for Ensaf News, told CPJ that his bank accounts “were blocked” after he was summoned by Iran’s cyber police. “They keep summoning me. I am sure if I go, they will arrest me. They are asking me why I post about the protests,” he said.
Elaha Khosravi, a journalist and producer of the Gazet podcast said her SIM card had been blocked without prior notice. “Some time ago, one morning I realized they had blocked my line. Since this had happened to me before,” she told Payamema website. “They have blocked my SIM card two other times. One time was last year, and after being summoned by security authorities, I was asked to delete my tweets and Instagram posts.”
“By raiding homes, seizing essential equipment, and weaponizing financial and digital tools to freeze journalists out of their livelihoods, Iran continues to demonstrate a ruthless determination to stifle the truth,” said CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah. “These punitive measures are a clear attempt to blind the world to the reality on the ground, and authorities must immediately cease this harassment and return all confiscated property.”
On February 3, IRGC raided the Tehran home of Iranian photographer Yalda Moaiery, during which security forces confiscated all of her personal electronic devices, including her cellphone, laptop, and cameras. Moaiery, who was arrested in 2022 for covering nationwide protests and received an IWMF award in 2023, had recently been documenting the renewed crackdown on protesters.
CPJ has also documented five additional arrests of journalists by Iranian authorities since protests erupted on December 28 last year: Mehdi Mahmoudian, Vida Rabbani, Hassan Abbasi, Artin Ghazanfari and Hamed Araghi. Araghi was released on February 3.
CPJ’s email to the Iranian mission to the United Nations in New York requesting comment did not receive a response.