Iran's media landscape is divided between outlets closely affiliated with the state and those considered reformist. State-aligned outlets include organizations such as Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Tasnim, Fars News, and Mehr News. These conservative outlets often promote narratives that support Iran's ruling clerical establishment.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has acknowledged that several thousands of Iranians have been killed since protests started in late December among shopkeepers in downtown Tehran, before gradually spreading to big and small cities. That confirmation is unusual because Khamenei has typically avoided commenting on death tolls during previous protests in Iran over the years. list of 3 itemsend of list But there are stark contrasts in the narratives