Challenges of Reporting in Wartime Iran

Mike Abrams, a deputy editor at The New York Times, highlights the hurdles faced by journalists reporting from Iran during the current war. He discusses the experiences of Times correspondent Abdi Latif Dahir and photographer Emile Ducke, who ventured into Iran amidst the conflict following attacks by the United States and Israel.

Before the war, Iran posed significant challenges for journalists. Reporting relied heavily on external communications, verified imagery, and social media. This month, Dahir and Ducke, along with colleagues from The Times’ video department, became the first journalists to report from within Iran since the outbreak of hostilities. Their assignment focused on the funeral ceremonies of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Experience of On-the-Ground Reporting

Dahir shared insights on how he managed the constraints while covering the events. He described attending multiple funeral ceremonies, each marked by overwhelming crowds and emotional displays. The most striking was the procession in Tehran’s Azadi Square, with countless mourners assembling under intense heat.

The scale of the turnout reflected the deep reverence some held for Ayatollah Khamenei, juxtaposed against the profound pain experienced by others due to his regime’s oppressive legacy.

Such on-the-ground reporting in Iran requires navigating complex logistical and political barriers, underscored by the country’s limited and monitored internet access, a challenge for filing reports timely and accurately.

“The sheer scale of the turnout, the weight of the moment, the palpable sense of history and the raw chaos of mourning made it extraordinary to witness.” – Abdi Latif Dahir