The Islamic Republic’s Lies: 46 Years of Narrative-Shaping, Denial and Domestic and Foreign Consequences H. Soleimani ۱۴۰۴/۰۵/۲۴ A review of political deception in the Islamic Republic, from the Iran–Iraq War to the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, and a comparison of how reality is manipulated in Iran, democracies, Russia and China. H. Soleimani – This report surveys only a few examples of the Islamic Republic’s political lies. From the Iran–Iraq War to the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, the pattern is clear: immediate denial, blaming the enemy or outside forces, cutting off or filtering information, and finally a belated retreat. The result of this cycle has been the collapse of social capital at home and chronic discredit abroad. What is political spin, or selective presentation of reality, and how does it differ from lying? In politics, “spin”, or a form of selective presentation of reality, means framing facts selectively in order to persuade public opinion, without directly resorting to fabrication or lies. It is achieved by highlighting certain aspects of reality, choosing words carefully and timing statements strategically. In democracies, free media and oversight institutions prevent the manipulation of reality from turning into systematic lying. Lying, however, means knowingly presenting something untrue or concealing vital facts. This behaviour persists in environments where accountability is weak. In authoritarian systems, the manipulation of reality quickly turns into denial, blaming the enemy and the fabrication of narratives, because the cost of being exposed is low and independent media are either suppressed or sidelined. The manipulation of reality in different countries: a comparative overview 1. Democracies Characteristics: Selective presentation of reality often means choosing which parts of the truth to present, rather than outright fabrication; free media, opposition parties and courts challenge the official narrative. Consequences: It may lead to distrust of a party or politician, but the credibility of the system as a whole is usually preserved because independent sources of information exist. 2. Iran Characteristics: It goes beyond selection to include blatant lies and deliberate concealment; a monopoly over the media, suppression of journalists, and the securitisation of crises. Consequences: The erosion of social capital, the emergence of a “rumour market”, declining international credibility and repeated sanctions. 3. Russia Characteristics: The media are under the Kremlin’s direct or indirect control; there is an emphasis on nationalism and foreign threats, alongside the suppression of independent information. Consequences: A domestic “information bubble”, global distrust, and a dangerous gap between realities on the ground and the official narrative. 4. China Characteristics: Centralised propaganda overseen by the Communist Party, extensive internet censorship (the “Great Firewall”), and control of the narrative at its source. Consequences: The domestic population is largely exposed to the Party’s narrative; foreign scepticism about official statistics and difficulties in international cooperation. Why have “blatant lies” become the norm in Iran? The low cost of lying: the absence of free media, an independent judiciary and free elections. 1. Securitising crises: from civil protest to a public health crisis, everything becomes a security case. 2. Ideological narratives: any reality that does not fit must be erased or distorted. 3. Digital information suppression: disrupting or shutting down the internet to prevent independent evidence from spreading. Examples of the Islamic Republic’s blatant lies • The end of the war and the “poisoned chalice” (1988) — promises of victory, followed by acceptance of Resolution 598 and the admission that it was “more bitter than poison”. • The summer 1988 executions — denial of mass killings despite credible international reports. • The chain murders (1998–99) — initially blamed on the enemy, followed by an admission that “rogue elements” were involved. • The murder of Zahra Kazemi (2003) — claims that she had suffered a stroke or fallen, when the cause of death was a blow to the head in prison. • Kahrizak (2009) — denial of torture and deaths until revelations led to the detention centre’s closure. • Aban 1398 (November 2019) and the internet shutdown — official figures that minimised the death toll, in contrast with evidence documenting hundreds killed. • Flight 752 (2020) — three days of denying a technical fault, followed by an admission that air defences had fired on it. • COVID-19 (2020) — official figures below the actual toll; leaked data showed that deaths were three times higher. • Undeclared nuclear sites — claims of transparency, against the discovery of uranium particles and censures by the IAEA. • Televised confessions — presented as voluntary admissions, despite having been made under pressure and coercion. • The disbanding of the morality police (1401/2022) — claims that its activities had ceased, but a stricter hijab law was passed. • The Evin prison fire (1401/2022) — claims of an internal clash, against evidence of the use of firearms and tear gas. • “Woman, Life, Freedom” and the repeated pattern of describing the deaths of young people as “suicide or an underlying illness”, in contradiction with the UN Fact-Finding Mission’s findings on the death of Mahsa (Jina) Amini. • Claiming that an Israeli F-35 had been shot down and declaring victory (1404/2025) – an unsupported claim, officially denied, with fake or unrelated evidence. Disruptions to the internet and the arrest of journalists make it difficult at the time to fact-check the various and numerous lies. How government lies work • Immediate denial and a coordinated narrative. • Blaming the enemy or unidentified actors. • Restricting the flow of information. • Retreating from or changing the narrative after domestic or foreign pressure. Domestic and foreign consequences • Loss of collective trust: people do not take official messages seriously, even during genuine crises. • A rumour market and polarisation: a lack of transparency creates parallel realities. • Policy paralysis: decisions based on manipulated data cause crises to cascade. • International discredit: sanctions, IAEA resolutions and diplomatic isolation. • Erosion of the support base: even loyal supporters become doubtful. Conclusion Political selection of reality exists in every country, but the Islamic Republic has turned it into a model based on controlling reality and turning it into lies. From war and the economy to protests and public health, the cycle of denial, distortion, scapegoating and information suppression is repeated again and again. This report presents some of the cases that have come to light, but thousands of other lies may remain concealed, only to be exposed sooner or later. Ending this cycle is impossible without free media, an independent judiciary and impartial investigations. Sources: Britannica – “Political Spin” entry National Press Foundation – Spin Tactics & Political Communication Oxford Research Encyclopedias – Political Communication and Spin in Democracies Amnesty International reports on Aban 2019, the 1988 executions, and the 2022–2023 protests BBC Persian – leaked COVID-19 data, 2020 United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission – Mahsa Amini case Reuters and Associated Press – coverage of flight PS752 Justice for Iran and Human Rights Watch Forced confessions and the Islamic Guidance Patrol Reporters Without Borders Media freedom in Russia BBC News and The Guardian – censorship of the war in Ukraine Chatham House The Kremlin’s propaganda structure Freedom House China’s Media and Internet Freedom The New York Times and The Washington Post Censorship of the Hong Kong protests and COVID-19 Human Rights Watch — China’s censorship and firewall Noam Chomsky & Edward S. Herman – Manufacturing Consent Freedom House – Freedom in the World Reporters Without Borders – World Press Freedom Index Source: https://srouzbeh.com/en/posts/archive-f22b1a7b-de8d-f460-dd13-e70a8b18e0de Please credit the author and link to this edition.