Iran
Freedom at a Glance
Global Freedom
10 / 100
Not Free
Internet Freedom
9 / 100
Not Free
The Islamic Republic of Iran holds elections regularly, but they fall short of democratic standards due in part to the influence of the hard-line Guardian Council, an unelected body that disqualifies all candidates it deems insufficiently loyal to the clerical establishment. Ultimate power rests in the hands of the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the unelected institutions under his control.
Research & Recommendations
Iran
Not Free
10
100
| PR Political Rights | 4 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 6 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
11
100
Not Free
A country or territory’s Freedom in the World status depends on its aggregate Political Rights score, on a scale of 0–40, and its aggregate Civil Liberties score, on a scale of 0–60.
See the methodology.
Overview
The Islamic Republic of Iran holds elections regularly, but they fall short of democratic standards due in part to the influence of the Guardian Council, an unelected body of hard-line conservatives that disqualifies all candidates it deems insufficiently loyal to the clerical establishment. Ultimate power rests in the hands of the country’s supreme leader, and the unelected institutions under his control. These institutions, including the security forces and the judiciary, play a major role in the suppression of dissent and other restrictions on civil liberties.
Freedom in the World 2026 Policy Recommendations
Strengthen democratic coordination and collective action in a contested global order
Democratic resilience will increasingly depend on stronger coordination among countries that share a commitment to freedom, the rule of law, and accountable governance.
Reimagine international democracy assistance to help reverse the global decline in freedom
International support for democratic institutions, civil society, and independent media has been associated with modest but meaningful improvements in democratic governance, and it is far less costly than the military outlays necessitated by rising authoritarian aggression.
Prioritize engagement with younger generations in the digital spaces where civic identity is now formed
Young people are increasingly dissatisfied with democracy—not because they reject its principles, but because they see institutions failing to deliver on them. Programmatic work should create clear pathways for meaningful political participation, from voting and policy engagement to community organizing and public leadership, so that young people can translate their expectations into agency.
Iran
Not Free
9
100
| A Obstacles to Access | 5 25 |
| B Limits on Content | 3 35 |
| C Violations of User Rights | 1 40 |
Last Year's Score & Status
13
100
Not Free
Scores are based on a scale of 0 (least free) to 100 (most free).
See the methodology and report acknowledgements.
Overview
The Iranian regime is one of the world’s worst abusers of online rights, and internet freedom deteriorated substantially during the coverage period. As a result of the country’s tiered internet scheme, accessing the global internet is cumbersome and expensive, and a majority of Iranians are confined to a domestic version of the internet where authorities can more effectively control content and monitor online activity. The government deliberately shut down the internet during times of conflict and protest, including in June 2025 during a 12-day military conflict between Iran and Israel. Beginning in late February 2026, the regime implemented the country’s longest-ever internet shutdown, which lasted 88 days, amid the war with Israel and the United States. When nationwide antigovernment demonstrations broke out in January, the regime took similar steps to quell online protest mobilization and silence social media activism. Alongside a nationwide communications shutdown, authorities arrested over 50,000 demonstrators and security forces used excessive violence to quash the protests, killing at least 4,200 people.
Freedom on the Net 2026 Policy Recommendations
Undermine Authoritarian Internet Restrictions
Access to the internet is under threat as authoritarian powers continue to create barriers for people to freely express themselves online. Internet shutdowns, throttling, and platform blocking remain among the most common tools of digital repression. At the same time, digital technologies serve as a lifeline for people seeking to expose human rights violations to the outside world and hold dictators accountable.
Safeguard Privacy Online
Protecting privacy online is essential to safeguarding free expression in repressive contexts. Without strong privacy protections, journalists and human rights defenders may self-censor out of a fear of reprisal. Rapid advances in AI—and the growing threat of automated vulnerability exploitation—heighten these risks, leaving civil society organizations increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated cyberattacks.
The Iranian regime’s expansive definition of who constitutes a threat to the Islamic Republic contributes to the breadth and intensity of its transnational repression campaign. The authorities frequently label the targeted dissidents and journalists as terrorists, using the term as a blanket justification for violence and disregard for due process. The campaign incorporates the full spectrum of transnational repression tactics, including assassinations, renditions, detentions, unlawful deportations, Interpol abuse, digital intimidation, spyware, coercion by proxy, and mobility controls. These tools have been deployed against Iranians in at least nine countries in Europe, the Middle East, and North America.
Policy Recommendations: Transnational Repression
Raising awareness about the threat of transnational repression.
Like-minded governments and international organizations should work together to highlight the threat of transnational repression and establish international norms for addressing it.
Limiting the ability of perpetrators to commit transnational repression.
This includes agreeing on a common definition of transnational repression, and prohibiting the use of Interpol notices on their own to deny immigration or asylum benefits or conduct arrests.
Bringing accountability for acts of transnational repression.
Among other tactics, governments should deploy a robust strategy for targeted sanctions against perpetrators of transnational repression.
News and Updates
Featured
Freedom House Perspectives
News Releases & Media Coverage
Country Facts
Basic Facts
Freedom in the World Score
10
/ 100
Not Free
Freedom on the Net Score
9
/ 100
Not Free
Population: 88,550,000
Election Facts
Status
Past Election
Date of Election
March 1, 2024
Type of Election
Legislative
Internet Penetration
78.60%
Election Year
2024
Vulnerability Index
10
/ 100
Transnational Repression
Status
Origin Country
Tactics
Assassination, Rendition, Spyware, Family Intimidation, Digital Threat, Interpol Abuse, Mobility Controls
Targets
Political opponents of the ruling regime
