Radio Farda Returns to Shortwave, Bypassing Iran’s Digital Blackout
(WASHINGTON) — Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has today resumed shortwave radio broadcasts into Iran following the imposition of an internet blackout by the Islamic Republic. Working with several commercial vendors, RFE/RL’s Persian-language service Radio Farda is once again providing an alternative to state-controlled media. Radio Farda reaches 6.5 million Iranians inside the country each week across digital platforms.
As nationwide protests in Iran continue, Radio Farda remains a lifeline for the people of Iran, providing vital news and insight, amplifying the voices of activists, verifying the deaths of protesters, and delivering expert analysis on the developing U.S. response.
President & CEO Stephen Capus said:
“At this historic moment, when the Iranian people have been plunged into digital darkness by their government, Radio Farda’s return to the airwaves is an essential breakthrough. We’re reaching the people of Iran with the facts they need to stay safe – and ensuring their voices continue to be heard. Our journalists at Radio Farda are working nonstop to fulfill our commitment to the people of Iran.”
In the week leading up to the Islamic Republic’s internet blackout, Radio Farda’s digital reach surged. Between January 2-8, Radio Farda’s Instagram content was viewed at least 30 million times per day – 241.8 million views total – with 96% coming from Iran. Between December 28-January 5, Instagram video viewership rose by 411% over the previous seven-day period, with engagements soaring by 481%.
Radio Farda is a primary source of international perspectives on the crisis for Iranians, providing the latest statements from U.S. President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority, and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), as well as analyses of the crisis and its impact on U.S. and foreign policy debates and analysis by experts such as Jack Goldstone, Michael Sobolik, Michael Rubin, and Ilan Berman.
For the latest information on the protests, follow Radio Farda’s live blogs in English and Persian.
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Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is a private, independent international news organization whose programs — digital, television, and radio — reach a weekly audience of more than 47 million people in 22 countries.
In one of the world’s most repressive media environments, RFE/RL’s Persian-language service, known locally as Radio Farda, stands as a beacon of independent journalism, defying government censorship to deliver trusted news to audiences in Iran.