Iran has long ranked among the world's most repressive countries for press freedom . In the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders placed Iran 177th out of 180 countries, below Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, which ranked 175th. But journalists and media watchdogs say the US-Israel war with Iran has pushed reporting conditions to an even more dangerous point. Authorities in Iran have long tried to control the public narrative during moments of crisis. But according to journalists inside the country, wartime conditions have made that grip even tighter . One journalist working for a well-known Iranian outlet told DW that the publication is now being more closely monitored and that editorial instructions are being passed down from above on how coverage should be handled. According to this journalist, who asked to remain anonymous, the newspaper's website cannot be accessed from outside Iran.…