‘Life is full of unexpected surprises': People trying to call Iran meet mysterious voice message

People trying to call friends and loved ones inside Iran have instead been met with strange, pre-recorded voice messages, which some experts believe may be part of the regime's wider internet blackout.
In a recording of a telephone call heard by CNN, a person outside of Iran hoping to hear their friend's voice on the other line, was instead met with a robotic voice. 'Hello, and thank you for taking the time to listen,' the voice says.
'Life is full of unexpected surprises,' it continues, 'and these surprises can sometimes bring joy while, at other times, they challenge us.
'The key is to discover the strength within us to overcome these challenges.'
The unsettling message, which lasts nearly 90 seconds, then goes on to recommend the listener close their eyes and imagine themself in a place that brings them 'peace and happiness.'
While different variations have been reported, this version appears to have been the one most commonly heard by people outside Iran placing calls to mobile phones inside the country on Wednesday and Thursday. No similar message was reported when calling landlines.
The messages were widely heard after Iran imposed nationwide temporary restrictions on internet access on Wednesday, citing security concerns. This meant WhatsApp was down, so people abroad began calling their friends and family in Iran directly, rather than via the app. The message is reportedly not heard if the call is made through an app.
The initial assumption for many Iranians was that the messages were the result of an Israeli cyberattack. Others see the Iranian authorities as being behind them.
Alp Toker, the founder and director of NetBlocks, a non-governmental organization that monitors internet governance, believes the messages are an attempt by the Iranian government to limit telecommunications, as part of the wider internet censorship measures.
'The point is, when the internet is cut, the phones need to go somewhere, and that will go to the fallback message on the device,' he told CNN.
Toker added it was a phenomenon NetBlocks had seen in different places around the world when internet access was cut. 'Sometimes it will have an advert for summer vacations and sometimes it will have some other nonsense,' he said.
According to Toker, the messages are text-to-speech generated. He believes they appear to have been set up rapidly.
'It's in the format of a normal gateway answering message of the type you might get from a national gateway when a phone doesn't answer,' he said. 'It seems that they've gone with the settings, and there's a little box where you can put in the settings and they've put something in there, pre-AI generated.'
Meanwhile, a UK-based telecommunications expert who listened to a recording of the most commonly heard message told CNN that 'the call appears to be hijacked after the second ring, which is highly unusual and deeply concerning. This suggests interference at the network level – well before a proper connection is established.' The expert asked not to be named for safety reasons.
Neither Israel nor Iran has made a public statement on the recorded phone messages.
Access to international internet services had been partially restored in parts of Iran on Saturday 'after approximately 62 hours of severe disruption,' NetBlocks said.
'While some regions have seen improvements, overall connectivity remains below ordinary levels, continuing to hinder people's ability to communicate freely and access independent information,' it added.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that international internet services would resume by 8 p.m. local time Saturday, citing the communications minister. However, Tasnim later reported that this was not the case, citing the same minister.
According to the communications ministry, Iranians abroad can now contact their families inside Iran through domestic messaging apps.
The Iranian government has frequently restricted internet access in the country. During nationwide protests in 2022, authorities implemented multiple internet shutdowns in an effort to stifle dissent.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

26 minutes ago

• Yahoo

Fed officials are starting to break rank and join Trump

Some Federal Reserve officials are joining President Donald Trump in calling for lower interest rates as soon as July. Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman on Monday downplayed the potential impacts of Trump's tariffs on prices and said the US central bank should swiftly lower rates to preserve the labor market's health. 'It is time to consider adjusting the policy rate,' Bowman said. 'Should inflation pressures remain contained, I would support lowering the policy rate as soon as our next meeting in order to bring it closer to its neutral setting and to sustain a healthy labor market.' Bowman is the second Fed official to join Trump in calling for lower borrowing costs. On Friday, Fed Governor Christopher Waller said tariffs will likely only result in a 'one-off' increase in inflation. Both Bowman and Waller are Trump appointees. For months, Fed officials have said they prefer to wait to see how Trump's major policy shifts affect the US economy first before considering further rate cuts. At its policy meeting earlier this month, the Fed kept its benchmark lending rate unchanged for the fourth consecutive time. But that strategy hasn't sat well with Trump, who has relentlessly lashed out at the central bank and its leader, Fed Chair Jerome Powell, for not lowering rates. Trump has hurled various insults at Powell, describing him as a 'fool' and a 'numbskull.' Now, the Fed's wait-and-see posture is slowly crumbling, even as tensions in the Middle East heat up, which raises the risk of higher global energy prices. And the jury is still out on the ultimate impact of Trump's tariffs. Bowman said it's possible the Israel-Iran conflict — which escalated over the weekend with the US striking at three Iranian nuclear sites — results in higher commodity prices. And there's still the lingering possibility of Trump's trade war also pushing up prices, she said. Still, that may not even result in higher consumer prices because businesses don't have much leverage to hike prices this time around, Bowman said. 'I am certainly attentive to these inflation risks, but I am not yet seeing a major concern, as some retailers seem unwilling to raise prices for essentials due to high price sensitivity among low-income consumers and as supply chains appear to be largely unaffected so far,' Bowman said. Bowman isn't the only Fed official seemingly not worried about the potential economic impact of the Israel-Iran conflict. Powell has said higher energy prices spurred by the conflict will likely be short lived. 'When there's turmoil in the Middle East, you may see a spike in energy prices, but it tends to come down. Those things don't generally tend to have lasting effects on inflation, although of course in the 1970s, they famously did,' Powell said in a news conference following the Fed's June 17-18 policy meeting. 'But, we haven't seen anything like that now. The U.S. economy is far less dependent on foreign oil than it was back in the 1970s,' he added. Economists have said the economic impact of the current conflict largely depends on how out of hand it gets. A forecast from analysts at EY-Parthenon shows that the US economy could contract by a massive 1.9% annualized rate if the Middle East plunges into an all-out regional war. But in a 'contained' scenario, the US economy could contract only slightly. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

CNN

29 minutes ago

• CNN

Dangerous heat wave underway for parts of the US

Dangerous heat wave underway for parts of the US An extremely dangerous heat wave is underway for the eastern half of the United States as a potent heat dome reaches its peak, bringing the hottest temperatures of the year so far – the hottest in years for some cities. CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam reports. 01:01 - Source: CNN Dashcam captures strike near Ashdod Dashcam footage posted on social media shows the moment an Iranian airstrike made impact near the Israeli city of Ashdod. According to Israeli national emergency service MDA, crews have been dispatched to reported impact sites across the country following a barrage of missiles from Iran. 00:46 - Source: CNN CNN team witnesses Israeli strike on Tehran Israeli airstrikes rocked the north of Tehran on Monday. CNN's Frederik Pleitgen shows the aftermath of the attack. 01:14 - Source: CNN Why the Strait of Hormuz is so significant As Iran threatens to disrupt and close the Strait of Hormuz, CNN's Nick Paton Walsh breaks down why this narrow passage is so important. 00:58 - Source: CNN World leaders divided after US attack on Iran The UN Security Council was deeply divided during an emergency session called after US military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. 01:27 - Source: CNN Iranians demonstrate against US strikes US President Donald Trump's decision to launch direct strikes against Iranian nuclear sites has sparked a wave of anger in the country, with people on the streets of Tehran telling CNN they expect their country to strike back. 01:33 - Source: CNN Bernie Sanders reacts to US strikes on Iran during speech Sen. Bernie Sanders held a "Fighting Oligarchy" rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he received news of President Donald Trump's strikes on Iran. 01:38 - Source: CNN Satellite images show before and after US strikes in Iran Iran's largest nuclear complex was dealt a series of severe blows in US strikes on Sunday, a CNN analysis of satellite imagery found. See the before and after images, provided by Maxar Technologies, showing the damage visible at three of Iran's nuclear facilities. Initial damage assessments to the three sites are ongoing, according to the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency. 00:54 - Source: CNN Iranian foreign minister responds to US strikes The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has condemned US strikes on the country's nuclear facilities. He said Iran continues to defend itself by all means necessary against US and Israeli military aggression, and that the US holds "full responsibility for the consequences of its actions." 01:12 - Source: CNN 'No one dirtier than Trump': Iranians react to US strikes CNN's Fred Pleitgen is on the streets of Tehran, Iran's capital city, a day after US President Donald Trump confirmed he approved US strikes on Iran. Hear from residents in the city who say the strikes strengthen their support for Iranian leadership. 00:56 - Source: CNN General describes moment US bomb was dropped on Iran Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine detailed the moment US B2 bombers dropped Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs on Iran's Fordow nuclear plant followed by Tomahawk missiles striking Isfahan. The strikes were announced Saturday by President Trump. 00:53 - Source: CNN Iranian FM spokesperson: Trump administration betrayed diplomacy Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei spoke exclusively to CNN's Fred Pleitgen in Iran after the US attacked three key nuclear facilities in the country. Baghaei said the US' actions were "unprecedentedly dangerous" and a "betrayal of diplomacy." 01:27 - Source: CNN First attack on Israel since US struck Iran Israeli emergency responders deployed to multiple sites after reports of impacts from a fresh wave of Iranian missiles. The strikes were the first by Iran since the US announced it had attacked the country's nuclear facilities. 00:49 - Source: CNN CNN on blast site in Tel Aviv: 'A scene of complete devastation' CNN International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson in Tel Aviv walks through destroyed apartment buildings after the site got hit by Iranian missile strikes in response to the US' attack. 01:21 - Source: CNN Here's what the US used to attack Iran The US launched a significant military operation targeting Iran's nuclear facilities. CNN military analyst Cedric Leighton breaks down which weapons were deployed, including the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) for the first time in US combat history. 01:38 - Source: CNN Fareed reacts to US strikes in Iran The US has struck three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, US President Donald Trump said on social media, as the conflict between Israel and Iran enters its second week. CNN's Fareed Zakaria joins Anderson Cooper to discuss. 02:30 - Source: CNN Hegseth says 'American deterrence is back' US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed reporters during a Pentagon briefing Sunday morning following President Trump's weekend announcement of US strikes on Iran. Trump had said the US had struck Iranian nuclear sites including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. 01:17 - Source: CNN Video shows missiles from Iran streaking skies of Israel CNN's Anderson Cooper reports live from Tel Aviv, as Israel's military says it identified missiles launched from Iran and that defense systems are working to intercept them. The military called on the public to "enter a protected space" and stay there until further notice. Israel has also begun a new wave of attacks in Iran, its military said Saturday. 00:31 - Source: CNN Mahmoud Khalil speaks after being released from ICE detention center Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil was released on bail on Friday from a Louisiana ICE detention center, more than three months after he was arrested outside his apartment on Columbia University's campus. The judge found Khalil is not a flight risk or a danger to public safety, saying it's 'highly unusual' to be seeking his detention at this point. 00:36 - Source: CNN Israel and Iran vow to keep fighting Both Iran and Israel's UN ambassadors say that their countries will continue to fight during a tense UN Security Council meeting. 01:25 - Source: CNN Border patrol agents arrest US citizen standing up for detained maintenance worker A US citizen has been arrested after a physical altercation with immigration agents after they detained a maintenance worker at a shopping center in Pico Rivera, California. 01:33 - Source: CNN Anderson Cooper reports from a bomb shelter in Israel CNN's Anderson Cooper reports from a bomb shelter in the basement of a hotel in Tel Aviv as Iran fires another round of missiles at Israel. 01:13 - Source: CNN Why Trump rebuked his own intel chief CNN's Kristen Holmes reports on how Tulsi Gabbard's standing inside the Trump administration has diminished in recent weeks. President Donald Trump has come to see the director of national intelligence as "off message" when it comes to the conflict in the Middle East, according to one senior White House advisor. 02:04 - Source: CNN Inside the room of the Geneva-Iran talks Talks between European and Iranian officials in Geneva, Switzerland were "very tense" at first, but then became much more positive. CNN's Matthew Chance takes us inside the room where these talks took place. 02:04 - Source: CNN Why aren't tariffs causing inflation? For the past year, many economists warned that tariffs would increase prices, but inflation is lower today than when President Trump took office. CNN's Matt Egan breaks down why this might be the case and how economists expect that to change in the coming months. 01:09 - Source: CNN Aftermath of Iranian strike on Haifa CNN's Nic Robertson shows the aftermath of an Iranian strike on Haifa, Israel, less than an hour after it made impact. The strike wounded at least 17 people according to Israeli national emergency service MDA. 00:48 - Source: CNN Jewish GOP Congressman says he was 'run off the road' GOP Rep. Max Miller said he was 'run off the road' on his way to work in Ohio by an individual who yelled "Death to Israel" and had a Palestinian flag. Miller is Jewish and describes himself as a staunch defender of Israel. 00:50 - Source: CNN Iran's foreign minister responds to Trump's call for negotiations After President Trump opened a two-week negotiating window before he decides whether to strike Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the country is not seeking negotiations with the United States. 00:16 - Source: CNN Obama's energy secretary on Iran's ability to make a nuclear bomb CNN's Erin Burnett speaks with Ernest Moniz, the former US energy secretary under Obama and negotiator of the Iran nuclear deal, about the country's nuclear capabilities. 02:03 - Source: CNN CDC official who resigned warns of 'older adults dying unnecessarily' Former infectious disease expert Dr. Fiona Havers speaks with CNN's Jake Tapper after resigning from the CDC citing concerns about changes to the agency's vaccine processes under US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 01:02 - Source: CNN IAEA chief says report on Iran's nuclear program 'not new' CNN's Anderson Cooper speaks with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi about the watchdog agency's report findings cited in part by Israeli authorities for its attacks on Iran. 03:24 - Source: CNN Scores killed in Gaza in latest Israeli strikes Israeli strikes in Gaza killed more than 70 people on Thursday, with multiple children dying. Injured children, screaming in pain, were brought to Baptist Hospital in Gaza City and other children appeared lifeless as they were carried into the ward. 00:45 - Source: CNN Video appears to show increase in aerial activity over Tehran CNN's Fred Pleitgen reports on the ground in Tehran, Iran, and witnesses increased aerial activity over the city as the Israel-Iran conflict continues. 01:02 - Source: CNN FDA approves twice-a-year shot to prevent HIV A drug already used to treat HIV has now been given FDA approval to prevent new infections, and the drugmaker says it is remarkably effective. 01:20 - Source: CNN Iranian missile strikes major Israeli medical center CNN's International Diplomatic Editor, Nic Robertson, reports from Beer Sheva, Israel, where a hospital was struck during an Iranian attack. Iran said it was targeting an Israeli intelligence and command center 'near a hospital.' There have been no reported deaths from the strike. 01:04 - Source: CNN Trump admin. to end 988 suicide prevention service for LGBTQ+ youth The Trump administration is ending the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth on July 17. CNN's Jacqueline Howard reports. 01:01 - Source: CNN Israel's defense minister: Khamenei cannot 'continue to exist' Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cannot be allowed to 'continue to exist,' after an Israeli hospital was struck by an Iranian missile on Thursday. 00:13 - Source: CNN SpaceX Starship rocket explodes An explosion occurred late Wednesday night at SpaceX's Starbase facility in South Texas. A Starship rocket preparing for its tenth flight test experienced a 'major anomaly,' SpaceX says. There were no injuries and all employees are accounted for, according to SpaceX. The cause of the explosion and the extent of any damage are unclear. CNN has reached out to local police and fire departments for more information. 00:35 - Source: CNN Sole survivor of Air India crash mourns brother Vishwash Kumar Ramesh is the only survivor among 242 on board an Air India flight that crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12. On Wednesday Ramesh attended the funeral for his brother, who died in the tragedy. 00:30 - Source: CNN Hear former President Obama's warning about direction of the US Former President Barack Obama warned that the United States is 'dangerously close' to becoming 'consistent with autocracies' during a civic group event in Connecticut. 00:56 - Source: CNN Anne Burrell dead at 55 Anne Burrell, a chef and television personality whose joyful demeanor made her a beloved fixture on the Food Network, has died, according to the network. She was 55. 00:38 - Source: CNN NYC mayoral candidate arrested at immigration court New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander was released from federal custody Tuesday afternoon, hours after he was arrested by officers at an immigration court in Manhattan when he tried to escort a migrant whom officers were attempting to arrest. 01:48 - Source: CNN

Forbes

40 minutes ago

• Forbes

Bitcoin Fell Below $100,000 This Weekend Amid ‘Escalating Geopolitical Uncertainty'

Bitcoin prices declined below the $100,000 this weekend. Bitcoin prices dropped below $100,000 this weekend, briefly trading below that crucial level as global markets responded to the latest developments in the conflict between Iran and Israel. The world's most valuable digital currency by total market value approached $98,400 on Sunday, June 22, according to Coinbase data from TradingView. As recently as Friday, June 20, the cryptocurrency had been trading above $105,000. Jacob Joseph, Senior Research Analyst at CoinDesk Data, commented on this decline, stating via email that 'This movement has coincided with escalating geopolitical tensions involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran.' 'Investor sentiment appears to have become more cautious amid uncertainty over potential U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, which has likely contributed to the broader retreat seen in risk assets,' he continued. Marc P. Bernegger, cofounder of crypto fund of funds AltAlpha Digital, offered a similar take, indicating that 'Escalating geopolitical issues, particularly in the Middle East, were cited as a trigger for market uncertainty.' 'Tensions between Israel and Iran may have prompted capital flight from risk assets like Bitcoin, pushing prices below the $100,000 psychological support level,' he clarified through emailed commentary. James Maxfield, head of trading for Gemini EU, also chimed in, emphasizing the losses bitcoin (and ether) suffered over the weekend. 'This followed U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which triggered a sharp selloff across crypto markets,' he said through email. 'The downturn came after President Trump confirmed the strikes and warned that further military action was possible, fueling fears of broader conflict.' Potential Impact On Energy Markets Some analysts have voiced concerns about how the ongoing conflict in the Middle East could affect global energy markets. Dom Kwok, cofounder and COO of educational platform EasyA, spoke to this matter, specifying via email that 'Fears around Iran potentially closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil flows, have sparked concern.' Last year, 20 million bpd moved through this straight on average, which amounted to approximately 20% of petroleum liquids consumed by the global market, according to an analysis conducted by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Should this straight close, industry participants will have some very limited options for moving oil out of this area. As a result of these factors, the EIA has described the Strait of Hormuz as 'one of the world's most important oil chokepoints.' 'If disrupted, oil prices could spike, driving inflation higher,' Kwok noted. 'Historically, inflationary pressure prompts investors to exit perceived high-risk assets and shift towards cash and gold." The analyst shed further light on the subject, offering greater detail on the market's response to the latest geopolitical developments. 'Importantly, this isn't a crypto-specific reaction. It's a classic flight-to-safety move,' he stated. 'In times of conflict, forecasting future risk becomes nearly impossible, so capital flows to traditionally safer assets. While many believe Bitcoin should serve as a hedge, institutions still classify it as a high-risk asset.' 'Fortunately, these shocks are often short-lived,' he added. 'Temporary supply disruptions rarely result in lasting inflation unless prolonged.' 'Past events, like COVID's initial crash, show that such dips can offer compelling long-term buying opportunities. The fact BTC has bounced back above $100,000 shows this.'