The US needs an information-warfare strategy for Iran — and beyond – Breaking Defense

The US needs an information-warfare strategy for Iran — and beyond  Breaking Defense

In the face of authoritarian oppression, a US-made information warfare tool set could enhance the lives of those living in restrictive countries. The United States has demonstrated impressive combat power in the conflict with Iran. And yet, when Iranian authorities shut down the country’s internet and communications earlier this year during the nationwide anti-regime protests and Operation Epic Fury, the US was unprepared to help Iranian civilians combat their government’s repressive tactics. That remains a flaw in America’s ongoing campaign and should be one of the key takeaways from the Iran conflict. The US government must take steps to avoid repeating these shortcomings and develop plans to enable civilians to freely communicate in any country where a shutdown is possible.

The internet drove Iranian protests by enabling civilians to organize efforts to oppose the regime. To hinder those protests and further repress dissent, the regime shut down the internet nationwide. Despite restoring internet access in late May after an 88-day blackout intended to prevent an uprising during the 2026 war, the regime continues to heavily filter civilian communications, retains sophisticated tools to detect citizens using virtual private networks (VPNs) and unauthorized satellite internet services like Starlink, and maintains the ability to impose another nationwide blackout if unrest surges. With access to circumvention tools, civilians living under repressive governments, such as