The Iranian regime has reportedly broadcast at least 97 coerced confessions from detained protesters on state television over a two-week period, according to human rights organizations. These videos feature handcuffed detainees expressing remorse for their actions since protests began on December 28, accompanied by ominous music and edited clips depicting violence against security forces, as reported by The Associated Press and the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

Rights groups assert that these confession videos are obtained under duress, with detainees coerced into appearing on camera under threats of torture and execution. Ali Safavi, a senior official with the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), criticized the regime's tactics, stating that the forced confessions are intended to justify the violent suppression of protests, which have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 3,000 individuals. This situation has been described by NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi as constituting crimes against humanity.

Despite the regime's efforts to demoralize the population through these broadcasts, Safavi contends that such measures will not deter the resolve of the protesters, who are driven by widespread anger over political repression, economic collapse, and alleged abuses by security forces. The protests have continued even in the face of mass arrests and lethal force.

The HRANA has highlighted that forced confessions in Iran often follow psychological or physical torture and can lead to severe consequences, including death sentences. The current broadcast campaign is unprecedented and coincides with an extensive internet shutdown that has isolated the public from independent information sources. According to NetBlocks, Iran's internet blackout has exceeded 144 consecutive hours, marking one of the longest disruptions recorded. This shutdown has been described as a means for the state to conceal alleged crimes while maintaining control over the narrative through state media.

NetBlocks' director of research, Isik Mater, noted that the blackout enhances the impact of state propaganda, as the public is cut off from external information while the regime continues to operate its state television via satellite. Mater compared Iran's information strategy to that of North Korea, where citizens have limited access to the global internet and are subjected to constant state propaganda.

In response to international criticism, Gholamhossein Darzi, Iran’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, addressed an emergency session of the UN Security Council, denying allegations that Iranian security forces have killed protesters. He characterized these claims as "fabricated narratives" propagated by the United States and its allies, asserting that Iranian security forces were engaged in confrontations with armed groups he described as "ISIS-style terrorist cells" and violent separatists.

Darzi dismissed accusations regarding internet restrictions, stating that these measures were temporary and necessary to counter cyberattacks and protect national infrastructure. He emphasized that Tehran does not seek escalation but warned that any act of aggression would be met with a "decisive, proportionate and lawful response" under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Exiled Iranian activist Masih Alinejad criticized the Iranian regime's actions, likening its behavior to that of ISIS and calling for international support for Iranian protesters. This call was made in the context of a bipartisan letter from U.S. lawmakers urging the Trump administration to assist protesters in Iran, particularly in light of the intensified internet blackout and security crackdown.

The protests, initially sparked by rising inflation, have seen a shift in government narrative, framing the unrest as a foreign-backed security threat requiring a forceful response. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei labeled protesters as "rioters under foreign influence" and urged security forces to confront them sternly. While some civilian officials attempted to adopt a more conciliatory tone, they did not challenge the overarching narrative.

An open petition signed by over 3,400 U.S.-based Iranian technology professionals called for the end of the Islamic Republic and urged democratic countries to support Iranian protesters. The petition included signatories from major technology companies and institutions, endorsing Reza Pahlavi, Iran’s exiled prince, as a potential unifying figure for opposition forces. In a related development, senior IRGC general Mohsen Rezaei issued a direct threat against U.S. President Donald Trump, emphasizing the need for restraint from the U.S. to ensure regional safety.