The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie Can Iran's Protest Movement Topple the Regime?
Feb 18, 2026
Fardad Farahzad, primetime anchor of 24 on Iran International and veteran Iranian reporter in exile, discusses how Iranians bypass censorship to get news. He describes threats to exile journalists and how protests grew beyond previous cycles. Conversation covers Reza Pahlavi's rising role, the regime's limited options, and the risks and limits of outside intervention.
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Surviving A Plot To Kill A Journalist
- Fardad describes a real assassination plot against him in London tied to Iranian operatives.
- He says working for Iran International forces constant vigilance and security when traveling.
Citizen Journalists Power Reporting Under Blackouts
- Iran International relies heavily on citizen journalists and crowd-sourced verification during blackouts.
- The regime deploys disinformation, bots, and infiltration to confuse foreign outlets reporting on Iran.
Always Contextualize Reporting From Iran
- When reporting from Iran, always frame on-the-ground access as controlled and explain censorship constraints.
- Provide context so audiences understand interviews can be limited to pro-regime voices.