Journalists stand atop a fuel tanker as they cover a nearby ongoing fire following an overnight airstrike on the Shahran oil refinery in northwestern Tehran on March 8, 2026. The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, sparking swift retaliation by the Islamic republic which responded with missile attacks across the region. © AFP via Getty Images Iran’s Digital Darkness “This war is simultaneously eroding fundamental pillars of press freedom: access to information, the ability to verify facts and the safety of journalists.” 1 May 26