The media landscape in Iran is active but heavily regulated, with strict state oversight.
* **Broadcasting:** The **Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)** has a monopoly on domestic television and radio, operating numerous national and provincial channels. * **Print Media:** There are numerous daily newspapers representing various political factions within the accepted establishment. Prominent papers include *Kayhan* and *Ettela'at* (conservative), *Hamshahri* (centrist/municipal), and *Shargh* (reformist). * **News Agencies:** Key state and semi-official news agencies include IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency), Fars News, and ISNA (Iranian Students' News Agency). * **Digital Media:** The internet is highly popular, especially among the youth, though many global platforms (like YouTube, Facebook, X/Twitter, and Telegram) are officially filtered by the state. Consequently, the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) is widespread to access global media and social networks.