Lever Time Did Iran Just Launch A Shadow War On American Soil? (With Shane Harris)
Mar 12, 2026
Shane Harris, an Atlantic staff writer who covers intelligence and national security, unpacks a mysterious Farsi shortwave numbers broadcast. He traces how hobbyists found it, explains how numbers stations evade jamming, and explores theories about its origin and potential links to Iran. He also assesses plausible Iranian asymmetric responses and how politics have affected U.S. counterintelligence readiness.
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Farsi Numbers Station Appeared When War Began
- A mysterious Farsi numbers station reappeared on shortwave radio the day strikes on Iran began.
- The station broadcasts coded numeric strings publicly but requires a one-time pad to decode, making it audible but unreadable to outsiders.
How Numbers Stations Secretly Reach Targets
- Numbers stations use prearranged frequencies and one-time pads so any listener hears gibberish without the key.
- Broadcasts can move frequencies and run twice daily so intended recipients know when and where to tune in.
Station Moves Frequencies And Faces Wide Jamming
- The Farsi station has been heard on multiple frequencies and subject to jamming, suggesting attempts to evade interference.
- Amateur monitors found jamming audible far from the presumed source, implying significant transmitter power or wide-area jamming efforts.