Behind Iran’s facade of resolve and missile strikes, a different story is emerging—one of civil unrest, censorship, and growing desperation, especially on social media.
On Tuesday morning, June 24, 2025, Iranian media coverage of the Iran-Israel war took a dramatic turn. For the first time since hostilities began, state media moved beyond short propaganda headlines and aired extensive reports portraying Iran’s retaliation as a strategic victory. But alongside the triumphal narrative, rare critical voices—some even from regime-affiliated outlets—surfaced, revealing deep internal turmoil and public unease.
Official news agencies painted Iran as a vengeful nation that had successfully struck back. The Tasnim agency claimed Israel was “severely hit,” mentioning a building destroyed in Beersheba. Iranian propaganda channels reported “unprecedented pressure” on Israeli hospitals and declared Israel to be “burning in its own fire.”
However, independent radio stations and social media told a different story—one of a divided nation. Media analysts highlighted a dual narrative: a regime glorifying military action while citizens voice growing discomfort, economic fears, and distrust in leadership.
A striking example of this dissonance is the viral satirical song “Boom Boom Tel Aviv,” which circulated widely online. While the Iranian site 7sobh claimed it aimed to question Israel’s “inhuman behavior,” its popularity instead signaled public rejection of the regime’s messaging. The song, performed by an AI-generated voice of an American-Italian singer, revealed a hunger for alternative perspectives.
According to Radio Zamaneh, in an effort to avoid panic, Iranian authorities are imposing strict bans on publishing images of casualties and trying to control the flow of information. But these very censorship attempts—paired with the broadcast of Israeli statements on official channels—have only deepened the psychological battle and public mistrust of state-run media.