DARVO—Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender—is a psychological manipulation tactic identified by psychologist Jennifer Freyd. Perpetrators of wrongdoing first deny the abuse or harm, then attack the accuser or evidence, and finally reverse the roles, positioning themselves as the victim while casting the real victims or critics as aggressors. This tactic confuses, discredits, and silences opposition, allowing the abuser to evade accountability and maintain power.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has elevated DARVO from an interpersonal abuse strategy to a core governance and foreign policy doctrine. Since the 1979 revolution, the regime has systematically applied it across human rights, nuclear ambitions, support for terrorism, domestic repression, regional aggression, and international diplomacy. By framing itself as a perpetual victim of Western imperialism, Zionism, and Islamophobia, it justifies internal tyranny and external destabilization while portraying critics as bullies or conspirators.
This article examines the regime’s DARVO playbook in detail, drawing on patterns observed in its responses to protests, nuclear scrutiny, proxy warfare, and human rights critiques. Understanding this strategy is essential for countering its influence.
Historical Roots: Victimhood as Founding Myth
The 1979 Islamic Revolution succeeded partly through a powerful victim narrative. The Shah’s regime was depicted as a Western puppet imposing secular modernity and cultural imperialism on a pious Muslim nation. Ayatollah Khomeini and his followers cast the revolution as resistance against oppression, with the U.S. as the “Great Satan” and Israel as the “Little Satan.”
This foundational myth established the template. Any challenge to the new theocratic order—internal dissent, economic failure, or foreign criticism—was reframed as continuation of that imperial assault. The Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) reinforced it: despite initiating border tensions and rejecting peace offers, Iran portrayed itself as the innocent victim of Saddam Hussein’s aggression, backed by the West and Arab states. Chemical attacks on Iranian forces and civilians became enduring symbols of victimhood, used to this day to deflect scrutiny.
Decades later, this narrative persists. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and state media routinely invoke “arrogant powers,” “Zionist entity,” and “global arrogance” to explain domestic woes, from inflation to protests. The regime denies systemic failures while attacking critics as foreign agents and reversing roles to claim Iranians suffer most from sanctions it provokes.
Human Rights Abuses: Denying Atrocities, Blaming Victims
Iran’s human rights record is among the world’s worst, with systematic arbitrary arrests, torture, unfair trials, executions (often the highest per capita globally), gender apartheid via compulsory hijab, persecution of religious minorities (especially Baha’is), and suppression of ethnic groups like Kurds and Baluchis.
When confronted, the regime deploys full DARVO:
- Deny: Officials claim Iran has “the best human rights record in the Muslim world” or that reports are fabricated. Executions are “due process” for security threats or moral crimes; torture “confessions” are voluntary.
- Attack: Critics—UN rapporteurs, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Iranian activists, or diaspora voices—are labeled Western puppets, Zionists, or terrorists. State media accuses them of hypocrisy, pointing to issues in the U.S. or Europe. Dissidents inside Iran face charges of “enmity against God” or “corruption on earth.”
- Reverse Victim and Offender: The regime positions itself and the Iranian people as victims of sanctions, “Islamophobia,” and media smears. Protesters are “rioters” manipulated by foreign intelligence. Women resisting hijab are “tools of cultural invasion.” Minorities demanding rights are “separatists” threatening national unity.
The 2022-2023 Woman, Life, Freedom (Zan, Zendegi, Azadi) protests exemplify this. Mahsa Jina Amini’s death in morality police custody sparked nationwide uprising against gender apartheid and broader tyranny. Security forces killed hundreds (including children), injured thousands with pellets, and arrested tens of thousands. Reports documented torture, sexual violence, and forced confessions.
The regime denied Amini’s beating (claiming natural causes or pre-existing conditions), attacked protesters as “thugs” and foreign stooges, and reversed roles by claiming the real victims were “hijab defenders” or security personnel. State TV broadcast forced confessions while officials blamed “enemies” for destabilization. New hijab laws imposed harsher penalties, framing enforcement as protecting Iranian culture from Western attack.
This pattern repeats in responses to labor strikes, environmental protests, or minority unrest. Impunity is preserved by labeling accountability efforts as interference in sovereignty.
Nuclear Program: “Peaceful” Victim of Hypocrisy
Iran’s nuclear ambitions illustrate DARVO in diplomacy. The regime insists its program is peaceful and a sovereign right, despite IAEA evidence of non-compliance, undeclared sites, weaponization research, and enrichment far beyond civilian needs.
- Deny: Enrichment is for energy and medicine. Weaponization claims are lies. Breaches of JCPOA (2015 nuclear deal) are responses to U.S. withdrawal.
- Attack: Inspectors and Western powers are biased or saboteurs. Assassinations of scientists or Stuxnet are “Zionist terrorism.” Sanctions are “economic terrorism.”
- Reverse: Iran is the victim of a “nuclear apartheid.” Israel (undeclared arsenal) and nuclear powers face no scrutiny, while peaceful Iran is targeted. Sanctions harm civilians, making Iran the aggrieved party demanding reparations.
This narrative sows division internationally, appealing to Global South solidarity against “Western double standards.” Even as proxies escalate regional tensions, Iran claims its nuclear program deters aggression against it.
Support for Terrorism and Proxies: “Resistance Axis” DARVO
Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, arming and directing Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Houthis, Iraqi militias, and others. These groups have killed Americans, Israelis, Saudis, and others through attacks, rockets, and asymmetric warfare.
The regime:
- Denies direct control, calling proxies independent “resistance” movements.
- Attacks accusations as smears by “warmongers” or Israel lobby.
- Reverses by portraying Iran and allies as victims of occupation, imperialism, and genocide plots. October 7, 2023, atrocities by Hamas were downplayed or justified as resistance, with Israel cast as the aggressor committing “genocide.” Iranian strikes or proxy attacks are “defensive” or “retaliatory.”
Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” narrative weaves victimhood with victory messaging: oppressed Muslims fighting back against U.S.-Zionist hegemony. Domestic propaganda and AI-amplified social media campaigns amplify this, using memes and animations to reach younger audiences.
When proxies suffer losses or civilians die in responses, Iran mourns “martyrs” and blames the West/Israel, never its own destabilizing role.
Domestic Repression and “Cultural Invasion”
Compulsory hijab, morality police, internet shutdowns, surveillance, and execution of dissidents are framed as defending Islamic values against cultural imperialism. Women removing scarves are “Westernized” threats; protesters “seditionists.”
The regime denies systemic gender discrimination, attacks feminists as immoral or agents, and reverses by claiming Iranian women are empowered under Islam while Western women are objectified. Environmental disasters, economic mismanagement (exacerbated by corruption and sanctions evasion for military spending), and minority oppression are blamed on external plots.
International Relations and “Maximum Pressure”
U.S. or Israeli actions prompt denial of provocations, attacks on “aggressors,” and reversal claiming Iran seeks peace while being besieged. Hostage-taking (dual nationals) is denied as leverage or justified by alleged espionage.
Even in defeat or escalation, such as recent conflicts, Iran blends victory claims with victimhood to deter further action and rally support.
Digital Repression and Internet Shutdowns: Silencing the Masses
One of the regime’s most effective tools for controlling narratives is the deliberate imposition of nationwide or localized internet blackouts, especially during periods of unrest. A striking recent example is the massive internet shutdown that began on January 8, 2026, amid escalating 2025–2026 nationwide protests triggered by economic collapse, prior repression, and demands for regime change.
- Deny: Iranian authorities initially downplayed the blackout or justified it as technical issues, temporary maintenance, or necessary cybersecurity measures. Officials claimed the restrictions were limited and that the National Information Network (the domestic intranet) remained functional for essential services.
- Attack: The regime accused protesters of using social media and foreign platforms to coordinate “foreign-orchestrated sedition,” labeling activists, citizen journalists, and diaspora voices as agents of the U.S., Israel, and “counter-revolutionary” networks. VPN usage and attempts to bypass restrictions were criminalized, with users and providers threatened.
- Reverse Victim and Offender: Authorities framed the shutdown as a defensive act protecting the Iranian people and national sovereignty from “cyber warfare,” “Zionist hacking,” and Western disinformation campaigns. They portrayed themselves as victims of external aggression that forced them to restrict access, while claiming ordinary Iranians suffered most from sanctions and foreign meddling — not from the regime’s own actions. State media highlighted isolated “success stories” of domestic apps and claimed the blackout prevented greater chaos or foreign exploitation of protests.
This blackout, which lasted for months and became one of the longest nationwide internet disruptions ever recorded, severely limited the flow of information about protests, alleged massacres, and casualties. It enabled security forces to intensify crackdowns with reduced international scrutiny, while allowing only whitelisted access for regime-approved entities. Even after partial easing for certain businesses or officials, global internet access remained heavily restricted well into 2026, compounding economic hardship for ordinary citizens.
By cutting off Iranians from the outside world and independent reporting, the regime could more easily deny atrocities, suppress organizing, and maintain its victimhood narrative unchallenged.
Why DARVO Works for the Regime: Psychological and Strategic Advantages
DARVO exploits cognitive dissonance and good-faith assumptions. Western audiences, attuned to underdog narratives and wary of past interventions, may hesitate to confront the regime fully. It demoralizes diaspora and internal opposition by gaslighting them as traitors. Within Iran, it unifies hardliners and justifies repression.
Strategically, it buys time: nuclear talks drag on, proxies expand influence, and sanctions are partially evaded. It weaponizes international institutions, where “victim” states from the Global South often align against perceived Western hegemony.
Countering the Strategy: Truth, Unity, and Resolve
Countering requires persistent documentation of facts, rejecting false equivalences, supporting independent Iranian voices, and targeted pressure that distinguishes the regime from the people. sunlight on forced confessions, proxy funding, and enrichment levels undermines denial. Amplifying survivor testimonies breaks the reversal. Holding the regime accountable in international forums without apology counters the victim narrative.
The Iranian people have shown courage in repeated protests, rejecting the regime’s script. Woman, Life, Freedom revealed deep societal rejection of the theocracy. External actors must avoid falling for DARVO by maintaining moral clarity: the regime is the primary offender against its citizens and regional stability.
Conclusion: The Enduring Theater of Victimhood
Iran’s regime has mastered DARVO not as isolated incidents but as a comprehensive worldview. From the nuclear file to the streets of Tehran, from proxy battlefields to UN halls, it denies responsibility, attacks legitimacy of critics, and claims perpetual victimhood to perpetuate power.
This strategy has sustained a brittle regime facing economic woes, demographic shifts, and legitimacy crises. Yet manipulation has limits. As information spreads and Iranians continue resisting—women defying hijab, youth demanding freedom, minorities asserting rights—the facade cracks. The world must see through the theater: the real victims are the Iranian people and those suffering from the regime’s exported chaos. Accountability, not appeasement, offers the path forward. True peace and justice demand ending the cycle of denial, attack, and role reversal.