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Wikipedia

Iran International

Iran International (Persian: ایران اینترنشنال) is a Persian language news television channel headquartered in Washington, D.C. aimed at Iranian viewers,[1] and broadcasting free-to-air by satellite. Iran International was established in May 2017 in London but moved its headquarters to Washington, D.C. in February 2023 due to increased threats from the Iranian government against Iran International’s UK-based journalists.[2] It is available online, via radio and via satellite broadcasting worldwide including Iran.

Iran International
Broadcast areaWorldwide
HeadquartersWashington, DC
Programming
Language(s)Persian
Ownership
OwnerVolant Media UK Ltd
History
Launched19 May 2017; 5 years ago (2017-05-19)
Former names1080i (HDTV) 576i (SDTV)
Links
Websiteiranintl.com
Availability
Streaming media
Live PersianWatch live
Radio Iran International
Frequency15630 kHz / 5830 kHz SW

Iran International is owned by Volant Media UK Ltd.[3] It is licensed in the United Kingdom to Global Media Circulating Ltd as an editorial news service based in London[4] and is managed by DMA Media Ltd, which has bureaus in Paris, Istanbul, Kabul and Washington.[5] Volant Media UK launched a sister channel in 2021, Afghanistan International.[6]

The channel has received media attention for its reporting on human rights violations, separatism in Iran, political developments, LGBTQ+ rights and women's rights in Iran[7][8] and has twice been nominated for International Channel of the Year by the Association for International Broadcasting.[9][10] It is also known that the channel has ties with the Saudi Arabian royal family, with some funding for the channel coming from people closely associated with the same,[11][12][13] such that the Iranian government has specified the tethering of Iran International's activities as a prerequesite for normalization of its disturbed diplomatic relations with the Saudi administration.[14] Iran International’s management do not deny that they receive funding by Saudi nationals but they do deny that they are linked to any government, including that of Saudi Arabia.[15]

In 2022, an independent survey carried out by the Group for Analyzing and Measuring Attitudes in Iran (GAMAAN) and reported by the AIB[9] found that Iran International is the most influential source of independent news in Iran with 33% of the daily audience.[16] More than half of the 27,000 participants surveyed also reported that they trusted Iran International "a lot" or "to some extent".[17] During the Mahsa Amini protests on 9 November 2022, the Iranian Minister of Intelligence Ismail Khatib announced that Iran International had been declared a terrorist organization by the Islamic Republic of Iran, accused by the government of inciting riots protesting the regime.[18][19][20] News sources have reported that the Iranian government is waging an "intimidation campaign" against personnel of the TV station, freezing their assets, interrogating their relatives and "threatening to snatch them from British streets if they do not quit their jobs".[21][22]

History and availability

Iran International was launched on 18 May 2017,[23] with the aim of serving the 80 million people that live in Iran and the Iranian diaspora around the world, in addition to informing and educating a global audience on the latest news and developments in Iran and across the Middle East.[24]

The channel is headquartered in London and broadcasts internationally, with a team of journalists that have joined Iran International from other Persian-language news channels including Manoto, Radio Farda, BBC Persian Service and Voice of America. It has bureaus in Istanbul, Paris and Washington D.C.[25]

Iran International broadcasts via the TürkmenÄlem 52°E / MonacoSAT satellite to a wide region of Europe and Asia (including Iran), and also transmits an audio relay of it receivable in Iran via shortwave radio (SW). It also broadcasts worldwide via online streaming through its website or streaming apps.[26]

Programming

 
Iran International studio

According to Middle East Eye, Iran International is a media platform for the Iranian opposition.[27] Kourosh Ziabari of Al-Monitor wrote it "does not shy away from presenting itself as an opposition media organization" and frequently gives the microphone to guests who criticize the Iranian government.[28] The channel has been referred to as an "Iranian exile news outlet" by Borzou Daragahi of The Independent.[29]

The channel is known for raising the profile of Reza Pahlavi, the last heir apparent to the former Iranian throne, by constant coverage and repeatedly interviewing him.[27] It also airs coverage of People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK), including live broadcast of their rallies.[11]

The claim of responsibility for the Ahvaz military parade attack was made through Iran International.[30] In 2020, the TV broadcast performance of Iranian singers who were flown in from the United States to the Winter at Tantora Festival.[27] Iran International does not run television advertisements.[11]

News output

Iran International relies on a team of journalists around the world and reports on current affairs, health, technology, human rights violations, LGBTQ+ rights, women's rights and more.[25][31][32][33] The channel has reported extensively on the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran, the Iran Nuclear Deal and global politics.[34][35][36]

The channel also airs television shows on sport, culture and politics and has produced documentaries that have been nominated for awards by the Association for International Broadcasters.[37]

Exclusive stories

The channel has been the first to report on several exclusive news stories and has access to a network of whistleblowers and sources inside Iran.

Iran International reported exclusively on the extension of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's furlough,[38] and her partner Richard Ratcliffe has been a guest on the channel multiple times.[39] The channel was also the first to report that Iranian rapper Amir Tataloo was facing deportation back to Iran from Turkey,[39] and the sentencing of The Salesman star Taraneh Alidoosti.[40]

During the Covid-19 pandemic in Iran, the channel published exclusive documents pertaining to high level government corruption concerning Covid-19 medical supplies, with The Independent writing that the documents "purported to show how Iran regime figures intervened in the procurement of medical supplies to steer South Korean contracts for Covid-19 test-kits through shell companies towards conservative foundations controlled by cronies".[41]

Reporting on the execution of Navid Afkari, Iran International exclusively interviewed Amnesty International’s Iran Researcher and human rights lawyer Raha Bahreini, who told the channel that “with the secret and previously unannounced execution of Navid Afkari, the Islamic Republic authorities once again showed the ruthless and merciless of Iran’s judiciary system at the international level,”.[42]

Zarifgate

On 25 April 2021, Iran International obtained a leaked audio file of Iran's Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif criticising the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, and claiming that the deceased commander of the Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani had taken Iran into the Syrian Civil War because Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted Iranian forces on the ground to complement the Russian air campaign in support of the Syrian Government.[43][44]

Zarif also mentioned that Russia had wanted to stop the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and keep Iran at odds with the West.[45]

Elements of the recording also prompted US Republicans to call for the resignation of John Kerry from US President Joe Biden's National Security Council after Zarif revealed during the recording that Kerry had informed him of Israeli operations in Syria.[46]

Human rights

Lesbian activist and journalist at Iran International, Aram Bolandpaz has produced several documentaries on the LGBTQ+ community inside Iran and has been a vocal critic of human rights violations against the community.[7][31]

In June 2020, Iran International reported on a series of honour killings and gender-based violence that took place in Iran,[47] with legal analyst and journalist at Iran International Nargess Tavalossian, the daughter of Nobel Prize winning activist Shirin Ebadi, speaking publicly to global media outlets about the increase in violence against women in the country.[47][8]

The channel has also been noted for its reporting on the arrest of award-winning film director Mohammed Rouslouf.[48]

Staff

The head of TV is Mahmood Enayat,[49] and the Director of News is Aliasghar Ramezanpour,[50] who was the deputy Minister of Culture of Iran under former president Mohammad Khatami.[51]

In July 2019, Iranian media reporter Mazdak Mirzaei, a football commentator and TV host joined Iran International. Mirzaei had worked for IRIB on the weekly TV sports program Navad, that was suspended by the new head of IRIB 3 in March 2019.[28]

In May 2020, Iran International senior journalist Omid Habibinia joined the team to start a new show called Titre Aval.[52] In September 2021, Iran International journalist Tajuden Soroush published several reports on Afghanistan following the 15 August 2021 Fall of Kabul.[53][54][55]

Ownership

Iran International is owned by Volant Media UK Ltd.[3] It is licensed in the United Kingdom to Global Media Circulating Ltd as an editorial news service based in London[56] and is managed by DMA Media Ltd, which has bureaus in Paris, Istanbul, Kabul and Washington.[57] Volant Media UK launched a sister channel in 2021, Afghanistan International.[58]

Corporate documents for Volant Media shows that another Saudi national, Fahad Ibrahim Aldeghither, was the major shareholder of Volant Media before Adel Abdukarim.[3] Aldeghither owned over 75% of the shares of Volant Media from May 2016 to May 2018.[3] Fahad Ibrahim Aldeghither was the chairman of Mobile Telecommunication Company Saudi Arabia (Zain) from March 2013 to February 2016. Zain Saudi is the third-largest telecoms provider in Saudi Arabia.[59]

Controversies and criticisms

Iran International's news and analysis has been cited in Western media publications including BBC News,[60] The Guardian,[61] The Sydney Morning Herald,[33] The Telegraph,[62] Fox News,[8] and The Independent[63] Staff at Iran International have also appeared as experts on BBC Radio 4, Sky News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation networks[64] and ITN.

Iranian complaint to Ofcom

In 2018 Iran's ambassador to the UK lodged a complaint to the media regulator because of Iran International's interview with a separatist group spokesman after they claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack on a military parade in Ahvaz in Khuzestan Province, killing 25 civilians and military.[65] The channel aired an interview with Yaqoub Hor Altostari, presented as a spokesman for the group, indirectly claiming responsibility for the attack and calling it "resistance against legitimate targets".[66] After a long investigation Ofcom ruled that Iran International did not breach any rules.[67][68]

Alleged lack of editorial independence

Though the TV station states that it "adheres to strict international standards of impartiality, balance and accountability",[12] questions has been raised regarding its editorial independence.[11][12]

In October 2018, a report by Saeed Kamali Dehghan in The Guardian linked Iran International's funding to Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It also interviewed an unnamed insider who said that the editorial content had been influenced by its investors. A source was reported by the Guardian as saying that Iran International received $250m from Saudi Arabia for launching the channel. The insider and an unnamed ex-employee expressed dismay that Saudi funding had been concealed from the employees. Iran International denied The Guardian's report.[11]

According to The Wall Street Journal, "[some] journalists at Iran International have complained that management is pushing a pro-Saudi, anti-Islamic Republic line". WSJ quoted a former correspondent at the TV station commenting that "a systematic and very persistent push" was made during her time there.[12]

Azadeh Moaveni of New York University has charged the channel is an arm of Saudi Arabia: "I would not describe Iran International as pro-reform, or organically Iranian in any manner".[69]

Union busting

Michelle Stanistreet, general secretary of National Union of Journalists (NUJ) told Press Gazette "[o]ur members at Iran International have faced intimidation and harassment for their work as journalists —that their rights of freedom of association should be trampled on in this way is a grave injustice and one that the NUJ will do all it can to rectify".[70]

On 10 July 2020, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) released a statement and condemned union busting efforts made by Iran International, its refusal to engage with the UK government's non-departmental public body Acas to recognize a NUJ chapel, as well as what it called a "breach of international labour standards".[71] Iran International had signed a recognition deal with the British Association of Journalists (BAJ), which IFJ describes as a "sweetheart deal" with an "obscure journalists' union", and appointed a senior manager to represent staff while pressuring them to join BAJ.[71] NUJ stated that BAJ had no members there before the deal was made.[70] As of July 2020, BAJ claimed 20 members working at Iran International while NUJ said an "overwhelming majority" of the 140 workers are its members.[70]

On 15 July 2020, it was reported that Labour peer Lord John Hendy submitted a complaint to International Labour Organization (ILO) against the BAJ and Iran International.[72]

Persecution of Iran International staff

In December 2019, Shanti Das of The Times reported that Iran is waging an "intimidation campaign" against personnel of the TV station, freezing their assets, interrogating their relatives and "threatening to snatch them from British streets if they do not quit their jobs". Iran's Ministry of Intelligence had previously named the employees of Iran International as "enemy of the state", writing on its website that those who "serve foreigners" and "betray the country" will be punished.[73] The same publication wrote in May 2020 that Iran International is thought to be target of a state-sponsored programme that "has sought to discredit its reporting and trace its followers" by creating replicas of its social media accounts. Instagram was criticized for hosting the fake accounts.[22]

Designation as a terrorist organization by the Iranian government

On 9 November 2022, among the Mahsa Amini protests, the Iranian Minister of Intelligence Ismail Khatib announced that Iran International has been declared a terrorist organization by the Islamic Republic of Iran for supposedly inciting the anti-government riots. Any cooperation with the channel will be considered an act of cooperation with terrorists and a threat to national security.[19]

Response to Iranian government

In response to Iranian government castigation, Iran International deemed it needed to increase security in order to protect its London staff from threats emanating from Tehran. These bulwarks have included concrete barriers “guaranteed to stop a 7.5 ton truck at 50 miles (80 kilometers) per hour,” taking the lead from the way the UK government uses such barriers to defend against vehicular onslaughts, which vehicles are now monitored through checkpoints.[74]

Eventually, on February 18, 2023 , after a significant escalation in state-backed threats from Iran and advice from the Metropolitan Police, Iran International TV said it has reluctantly closed its London studios and moved broadcasting to Washington DC.[75][76][77][78]

References

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External links

  • Official website (in Persian, English, and Arabic)
  • Iran International on Twitter
  • Iran International's channel on YouTube

iran, international, persian, ایران, اینترنشنال, persian, language, news, television, channel, headquartered, washington, aimed, iranian, viewers, broadcasting, free, satellite, established, 2017, london, moved, headquarters, washington, february, 2023, increa. Iran International Persian ایران اینترنشنال is a Persian language news television channel headquartered in Washington D C aimed at Iranian viewers 1 and broadcasting free to air by satellite Iran International was established in May 2017 in London but moved its headquarters to Washington D C in February 2023 due to increased threats from the Iranian government against Iran International s UK based journalists 2 It is available online via radio and via satellite broadcasting worldwide including Iran Iran InternationalBroadcast areaWorldwideHeadquartersWashington DCProgrammingLanguage s PersianOwnershipOwnerVolant Media UK LtdHistoryLaunched19 May 2017 5 years ago 2017 05 19 Former names1080i HDTV 576i SDTV LinksWebsiteiranintl comAvailabilityStreaming mediaLive PersianWatch liveRadio Iran InternationalFrequency15630 kHz 5830 kHz SWIran International is owned by Volant Media UK Ltd 3 It is licensed in the United Kingdom to Global Media Circulating Ltd as an editorial news service based in London 4 and is managed by DMA Media Ltd which has bureaus in Paris Istanbul Kabul and Washington 5 Volant Media UK launched a sister channel in 2021 Afghanistan International 6 The channel has received media attention for its reporting on human rights violations separatism in Iran political developments LGBTQ rights and women s rights in Iran 7 8 and has twice been nominated for International Channel of the Year by the Association for International Broadcasting 9 10 It is also known that the channel has ties with the Saudi Arabian royal family with some funding for the channel coming from people closely associated with the same 11 12 13 such that the Iranian government has specified the tethering of Iran International s activities as a prerequesite for normalization of its disturbed diplomatic relations with the Saudi administration 14 Iran International s management do not deny that they receive funding by Saudi nationals but they do deny that they are linked to any government including that of Saudi Arabia 15 In 2022 an independent survey carried out by the Group for Analyzing and Measuring Attitudes in Iran GAMAAN and reported by the AIB 9 found that Iran International is the most influential source of independent news in Iran with 33 of the daily audience 16 More than half of the 27 000 participants surveyed also reported that they trusted Iran International a lot or to some extent 17 During the Mahsa Amini protests on 9 November 2022 the Iranian Minister of Intelligence Ismail Khatib announced that Iran International had been declared a terrorist organization by the Islamic Republic of Iran accused by the government of inciting riots protesting the regime 18 19 20 News sources have reported that the Iranian government is waging an intimidation campaign against personnel of the TV station freezing their assets interrogating their relatives and threatening to snatch them from British streets if they do not quit their jobs 21 22 Contents 1 History and availability 2 Programming 2 1 News output 2 2 Exclusive stories 2 3 Zarifgate 2 4 Human rights 3 Staff 4 Ownership 5 Controversies and criticisms 5 1 Iranian complaint to Ofcom 5 2 Alleged lack of editorial independence 5 3 Union busting 5 4 Persecution of Iran International staff 5 5 Designation as a terrorist organization by the Iranian government 5 6 Response to Iranian government 6 References 7 External linksHistory and availability EditIran International was launched on 18 May 2017 23 with the aim of serving the 80 million people that live in Iran and the Iranian diaspora around the world in addition to informing and educating a global audience on the latest news and developments in Iran and across the Middle East 24 The channel is headquartered in London and broadcasts internationally with a team of journalists that have joined Iran International from other Persian language news channels including Manoto Radio Farda BBC Persian Service and Voice of America It has bureaus in Istanbul Paris and Washington D C 25 Iran International broadcasts via the TurkmenAlem 52 E MonacoSAT satellite to a wide region of Europe and Asia including Iran and also transmits an audio relay of it receivable in Iran via shortwave radio SW It also broadcasts worldwide via online streaming through its website or streaming apps 26 Programming Edit Iran International studio According to Middle East Eye Iran International is a media platform for the Iranian opposition 27 Kourosh Ziabari of Al Monitor wrote it does not shy away from presenting itself as an opposition media organization and frequently gives the microphone to guests who criticize the Iranian government 28 The channel has been referred to as an Iranian exile news outlet by Borzou Daragahi of The Independent 29 The channel is known for raising the profile of Reza Pahlavi the last heir apparent to the former Iranian throne by constant coverage and repeatedly interviewing him 27 It also airs coverage of People s Mujahedin of Iran MEK including live broadcast of their rallies 11 The claim of responsibility for the Ahvaz military parade attack was made through Iran International 30 In 2020 the TV broadcast performance of Iranian singers who were flown in from the United States to the Winter at Tantora Festival 27 Iran International does not run television advertisements 11 News output Edit Iran International relies on a team of journalists around the world and reports on current affairs health technology human rights violations LGBTQ rights women s rights and more 25 31 32 33 The channel has reported extensively on the COVID 19 pandemic in Iran the Iran Nuclear Deal and global politics 34 35 36 The channel also airs television shows on sport culture and politics and has produced documentaries that have been nominated for awards by the Association for International Broadcasters 37 Exclusive stories Edit The channel has been the first to report on several exclusive news stories and has access to a network of whistleblowers and sources inside Iran Iran International reported exclusively on the extension of Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe s furlough 38 and her partner Richard Ratcliffe has been a guest on the channel multiple times 39 The channel was also the first to report that Iranian rapper Amir Tataloo was facing deportation back to Iran from Turkey 39 and the sentencing of The Salesman star Taraneh Alidoosti 40 During the Covid 19 pandemic in Iran the channel published exclusive documents pertaining to high level government corruption concerning Covid 19 medical supplies with The Independent writing that the documents purported to show how Iran regime figures intervened in the procurement of medical supplies to steer South Korean contracts for Covid 19 test kits through shell companies towards conservative foundations controlled by cronies 41 Reporting on the execution of Navid Afkari Iran International exclusively interviewed Amnesty International s Iran Researcher and human rights lawyer Raha Bahreini who told the channel that with the secret and previously unannounced execution of Navid Afkari the Islamic Republic authorities once again showed the ruthless and merciless of Iran s judiciary system at the international level 42 Zarifgate Edit On 25 April 2021 Iran International obtained a leaked audio file of Iran s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif criticising the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and claiming that the deceased commander of the Quds Force Qasem Soleimani had taken Iran into the Syrian Civil War because Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted Iranian forces on the ground to complement the Russian air campaign in support of the Syrian Government 43 44 Zarif also mentioned that Russia had wanted to stop the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and keep Iran at odds with the West 45 Elements of the recording also prompted US Republicans to call for the resignation of John Kerry from US President Joe Biden s National Security Council after Zarif revealed during the recording that Kerry had informed him of Israeli operations in Syria 46 Human rights Edit Lesbian activist and journalist at Iran International Aram Bolandpaz has produced several documentaries on the LGBTQ community inside Iran and has been a vocal critic of human rights violations against the community 7 31 In June 2020 Iran International reported on a series of honour killings and gender based violence that took place in Iran 47 with legal analyst and journalist at Iran International Nargess Tavalossian the daughter of Nobel Prize winning activist Shirin Ebadi speaking publicly to global media outlets about the increase in violence against women in the country 47 8 The channel has also been noted for its reporting on the arrest of award winning film director Mohammed Rouslouf 48 Staff EditThe head of TV is Mahmood Enayat 49 and the Director of News is Aliasghar Ramezanpour 50 who was the deputy Minister of Culture of Iran under former president Mohammad Khatami 51 In July 2019 Iranian media reporter Mazdak Mirzaei a football commentator and TV host joined Iran International Mirzaei had worked for IRIB on the weekly TV sports program Navad that was suspended by the new head of IRIB 3 in March 2019 28 In May 2020 Iran International senior journalist Omid Habibinia joined the team to start a new show called Titre Aval 52 In September 2021 Iran International journalist Tajuden Soroush published several reports on Afghanistan following the 15 August 2021 Fall of Kabul 53 54 55 Ownership EditIran International is owned by Volant Media UK Ltd 3 It is licensed in the United Kingdom to Global Media Circulating Ltd as an editorial news service based in London 56 and is managed by DMA Media Ltd which has bureaus in Paris Istanbul Kabul and Washington 57 Volant Media UK launched a sister channel in 2021 Afghanistan International 58 Corporate documents for Volant Media shows that another Saudi national Fahad Ibrahim Aldeghither was the major shareholder of Volant Media before Adel Abdukarim 3 Aldeghither owned over 75 of the shares of Volant Media from May 2016 to May 2018 3 Fahad Ibrahim Aldeghither was the chairman of Mobile Telecommunication Company Saudi Arabia Zain from March 2013 to February 2016 Zain Saudi is the third largest telecoms provider in Saudi Arabia 59 Controversies and criticisms EditIran International s news and analysis has been cited in Western media publications including BBC News 60 The Guardian 61 The Sydney Morning Herald 33 The Telegraph 62 Fox News 8 and The Independent 63 Staff at Iran International have also appeared as experts on BBC Radio 4 Sky News Australian Broadcasting Corporation networks 64 and ITN Iranian complaint to Ofcom Edit In 2018 Iran s ambassador to the UK lodged a complaint to the media regulator because of Iran International s interview with a separatist group spokesman after they claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack on a military parade in Ahvaz in Khuzestan Province killing 25 civilians and military 65 The channel aired an interview with Yaqoub Hor Altostari presented as a spokesman for the group indirectly claiming responsibility for the attack and calling it resistance against legitimate targets 66 After a long investigation Ofcom ruled that Iran International did not breach any rules 67 68 Alleged lack of editorial independence Edit Though the TV station states that it adheres to strict international standards of impartiality balance and accountability 12 questions has been raised regarding its editorial independence 11 12 In October 2018 a report by Saeed Kamali Dehghan in The Guardian linked Iran International s funding to Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman It also interviewed an unnamed insider who said that the editorial content had been influenced by its investors A source was reported by the Guardian as saying that Iran International received 250m from Saudi Arabia for launching the channel The insider and an unnamed ex employee expressed dismay that Saudi funding had been concealed from the employees Iran International denied The Guardian s report 11 According to The Wall Street Journal some journalists at Iran International have complained that management is pushing a pro Saudi anti Islamic Republic line WSJ quoted a former correspondent at the TV station commenting that a systematic and very persistent push was made during her time there 12 Azadeh Moaveni of New York University has charged the channel is an arm of Saudi Arabia I would not describe Iran International as pro reform or organically Iranian in any manner 69 Union busting Edit Michelle Stanistreet general secretary of National Union of Journalists NUJ told Press Gazette o ur members at Iran International have faced intimidation and harassment for their work as journalists that their rights of freedom of association should be trampled on in this way is a grave injustice and one that the NUJ will do all it can to rectify 70 On 10 July 2020 International Federation of Journalists IFJ released a statement and condemned union busting efforts made by Iran International its refusal to engage with the UK government s non departmental public body Acas to recognize a NUJ chapel as well as what it called a breach of international labour standards 71 Iran International had signed a recognition deal with the British Association of Journalists BAJ which IFJ describes as a sweetheart deal with an obscure journalists union and appointed a senior manager to represent staff while pressuring them to join BAJ 71 NUJ stated that BAJ had no members there before the deal was made 70 As of July 2020 BAJ claimed 20 members working at Iran International while NUJ said an overwhelming majority of the 140 workers are its members 70 On 15 July 2020 it was reported that Labour peer Lord John Hendy submitted a complaint to International Labour Organization ILO against the BAJ and Iran International 72 Persecution of Iran International staff Edit In December 2019 Shanti Das of The Times reported that Iran is waging an intimidation campaign against personnel of the TV station freezing their assets interrogating their relatives and threatening to snatch them from British streets if they do not quit their jobs Iran s Ministry of Intelligence had previously named the employees of Iran International as enemy of the state writing on its website that those who serve foreigners and betray the country will be punished 73 The same publication wrote in May 2020 that Iran International is thought to be target of a state sponsored programme that has sought to discredit its reporting and trace its followers by creating replicas of its social media accounts Instagram was criticized for hosting the fake accounts 22 Designation as a terrorist organization by the Iranian government Edit On 9 November 2022 among the Mahsa Amini protests the Iranian Minister of Intelligence Ismail Khatib announced that Iran International has been declared a terrorist organization by the Islamic Republic of Iran for supposedly inciting the anti government riots Any cooperation with the channel will be considered an act of cooperation with terrorists and a threat to national security 19 Response to Iranian government Edit In response to Iranian government castigation Iran International deemed it needed to increase security in order to protect its London staff from threats emanating from Tehran These bulwarks have included concrete barriers guaranteed to stop a 7 5 ton truck at 50 miles 80 kilometers per hour taking the lead from the way the UK government uses such barriers to defend against vehicular onslaughts which vehicles are now monitored through checkpoints 74 Eventually on February 18 2023 after a significant escalation in state backed threats from Iran and advice from the Metropolitan Police Iran International TV said it has reluctantly closed its London studios and moved broadcasting to Washington DC 75 76 77 78 References Edit Kerr Simeon England Andrew O Murchu Cynthia 8 January 2019 Saudi backed broadcaster launches video challenge to Netflix Financial Times retrieved 17 July 2020 Saudi investors have also established a London based Persian language news network Iran International to serve Iranian viewers https www bbc com news world middle east 64690387 amp a b c d VOLANT MEDIA UK LTD Overview free company information from Companies House beta companieshouse gov uk Ofcom Home Licensing Home TV Cable and Satellite Retrieved 23 September 2018 Iran International DMA Media 12 June 2018 Retrieved 23 September 2018 Volant Media UK Launches Afghanistan International TV 16 August 2021 a b Reid Smith Tris 2020 06 17 How this lesbian TV reporter uses journalism to fight for the LGBT community in Iran Gay Star News Archived from the original on 2021 01 13 Retrieved 2020 12 04 a b c McKay Hollie 2020 06 26 From poisonings to beheadings honor killings in Iran gets a fresh spotlight with social media Fox News Retrieved 2020 12 04 a b Iran International TV Leads Popularity Stakes AIB Retrieved 2022 08 15 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Association for International Broadcasting Iran International Retrieved 2020 12 04 a b c d e Kamali Dehghan Saeed 31 October 2018 Concern over UK based Iranian TV channel s links to Saudi Arabia The Guardian Retrieved 31 October 2018 a b c d Jones Rory Faucon Benoit Hagey Keach 8 February 2019 Saudi Arabia Sought Vice s Help to Build a Media Empire The Wall Street Journal retrieved 17 July 2020 Saeed Kamali Dehghan 2 October 2018 Ofcom examining TV network over interview praising attack in Iran The Guardian Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington Retrieved 10 February 2023 Concern over UK based Iranian TV channel s links to Saudi Arabia Guardian 2018 10 31 Retrieved 2019 12 07 Iranians Attitudes Toward Media A 2021 Survey Report گ مان گروه مطالعات افکارسنجی ایرانیان in Persian 2021 04 05 Archived from the original on 2021 04 12 Retrieved 2021 04 12 UK based TV stations Iran Intl Manoto most popular among Iranians Survey Al Arabiya English 2021 04 05 Retrieved 2021 04 12 Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington Retrieved 10 February 2023 a b Tehran Designates London Based Iran International News A Terrorist Organization Radio Farda 9 November 2022 Iran imposes sanctions on U K institutions individuals for inciting riots Reuters 2022 10 19 Retrieved 2022 12 04 Das Shanti Iran threatens to snatch Farsi reporters from British soil The Times ISSN 0140 0460 Retrieved 2020 07 31 a b Ball Tom Instagram accused of endangering Iran critics The Times ISSN 0140 0460 Retrieved 2020 07 31 Rosen Armin 5 October 2018 Iranian exiles use creativity and tech smarts to get real news past the regime s censors Fast Company Retrieved 31 October 2018 About Us Iran International 2018 05 29 Retrieved 2020 12 07 a b About Us Iran International 2018 05 29 Retrieved 2020 12 04 ایران اینترنشنال a b c Faghihi Rohollah 20 March 2020 Backlash in Iran after singers perform at Saudi Arabia festival Middle East Eye retrieved 17 July 2020 a b Ziabari Kourosh 2019 08 19 Is Iran s national broadcaster being pushed to brink of irrelevance Al Monitor Retrieved 2019 09 29 How governments and criminals use coronavirus to make big bucks The Independent 2020 06 29 Retrieved 2020 08 03 Iran s troubles are mounting at home and abroad The Economist 27 September 2018 retrieved 17 July 2020 One of the groups that claimed responsibility for the attack did so through Iran International a television station based in Britain and funded by Saudi investors a b Six in 10 queer Iranians have been assaulted by homophobic family members Almost half have been sexually assaulted in public PinkNews Gay news reviews and comment from the world s most read lesbian gay bisexual and trans news service 2020 09 18 Retrieved 2020 12 04 Report details LGBTQ Iranians violent experiences The Bay Area Reporter B A R Inc Retrieved 2020 12 04 a b Kheyri Dr Homayoun 2020 03 01 Iran s negligence may lead to an even greater global viral outbreak The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 2020 12 04 Health Officials Urge Cities Lockdown As Iran Covid Deaths Rise Iran International 2020 11 10 Retrieved 2020 12 11 What Is Iran s Nuclear Issue And The JCPOA FAQs Iran International 2020 12 05 Retrieved 2020 12 11 Will Biden And His Foreign Policy Chief Revive The Iran Nuclear Deal Iran International 2020 11 25 Retrieved 2020 12 11 Iran International TV nominated for the International Network of the Year award 2019 Iran International 2019 09 17 Retrieved 2020 12 04 Campbell Lucy Topping Alexandra 2020 06 05 UK coronavirus face coverings and masks to be mandatory in English hospitals as it happened The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 2020 12 04 a b Richard Ratcliffe Nazanin is a diplomatic hostage of Islamic Republic Iran International 2019 06 20 Retrieved 2020 12 04 The Salesman Star Taraneh Alidoosti Gets Deferred Prison Sentence in Iran Hollywood Reporter www hollywoodreporter com 25 June 2020 Retrieved 2020 12 04 How governments and criminals use coronavirus to make big bucks The Independent 2020 06 29 Retrieved 2020 12 04 Mostafa 2020 09 13 Navid Afkari s Corpse Buried Amid Severe Security Measures Iran News Update Retrieved 2020 12 04 Iran s Zarif criticises Revolutionary Guards influence in leaked tape BBC News 2021 04 26 Retrieved 2021 04 28 Iran foreign minister criticises power of Qassem Suleimani in leaked interview the Guardian 2021 04 25 Retrieved 2021 04 28 Rising David Iran nuclear talks resume after Zarif says Russia tried to wreck deal www timesofisrael com Retrieved 2021 04 28 GOP tears into Kerry amid Iran controversy POLITICO Retrieved 2021 04 28 a b Iran s police confirmed the fourth case of honor killing in less than a month Iran International 2020 06 19 Retrieved 2020 12 04 Dams Tim 2020 03 09 Top Festivals Protest Jail Sentence for Berlinale Winner Mohammad Rasoulof Variety Retrieved 2020 12 04 Mahmoud Enayat is the New GM of Iran International Iran International 2019 01 18 Retrieved 2019 09 29 https iranintl com en iran ofcom rejects islamic republic E2 80 99s complaint against iran international Ofcom UK media regulator says Iran International s coverage of Ahvaz attack was clearly justified and a legitimate topic for discussion The Channel s Executive Editor of News Aliasghar Ramezanpour said Any website or media organization which does not remove misleading and defamatory coverage after today s ruling will now face legal action by Iran International https www rferl org a iran faith healer who scared the regime 27189544 html Ali Asghar Ramezanpour served as deputy culture minister under former reformist President Mohammad Khatami Titre Aval Krishnankutty Pia 2021 09 10 Taliban vandalise tomb of Ahmad Shah Massoud Lion of Panjshir on his 20th death anniversary ThePrint Archived from the original on 2021 09 11 Retrieved 2021 09 11 Atrocities Committed By The Afghan Taliban Since The Fall Of Kabul Middle East Media Research Institute 2021 09 02 Archived from the original on 2021 09 10 Retrieved 2021 09 11 van Bijlert Martine 2021 09 01 The Moment in Between After the Americans before the new regime Afghanistan Analysts Archived from the original on 2021 09 08 Retrieved 2021 09 11 Ofcom Home Licensing Home TV Cable and Satellite Retrieved 23 September 2018 Iran International DMA Media 12 June 2018 Retrieved 23 September 2018 Volant Media UK Launches Afghanistan International TV 16 August 2021 New chairman for telecom provider Zain Saudi Reuters 2013 03 23 Retrieved 2019 12 07 Amir Tataloo Iranian rapper detained by Turkish authorities BBC News 2020 01 28 Retrieved 2020 12 04 Zaghari Ratcliffe endures further wait for Iranian decision on release the Guardian 2020 06 05 Retrieved 2020 12 04 Newey Sarah Kelly Linden Jordan Harding LaToya Team Global Health Security 2020 02 21 Coronavirus Chance to contain outbreak is narrowing says WHO The Telegraph ISSN 0307 1235 Retrieved 2020 12 04 Evacuated Americans flown home against medical advice and hundreds infected in China prisons The Independent 2020 02 21 Retrieved 2020 12 04 Iran steps up coronavirus response as high ranking government officials test positive ABC Radio National 2020 03 04 Retrieved 2020 12 04 Deadly gun attack at Iran military parade 2018 09 22 Retrieved 2019 12 07 Iran points finger at Arab separatists for deadly attack France 24 2018 09 23 Retrieved 2019 11 04 Waterson Jim 2019 03 26 Iran TV station did not break rules over interview praising attack Ofcom The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 2019 09 29 Radio Farda 27 March 2019 Persian TV Channel Did Not Break Rules British Media Regulator Says RFE RL Retrieved 27 March 2019 London based TV channel sparks Iranian leaders ire amid protests CNN 24 October 2022 Retrieved 29 October 2022 a b c Tobitt Charlotte 17 July 2020 UK based Iran International journalists rights trampled amid threats from Iranian state Press Gazette archived from the original on 19 July 2020 retrieved 17 July 2020 a b International Federation of Journalists 14 July 2020 IFJ condemns the actions of Iran International to frustrate the recognition process of its affiliate the NUJ Press release Archived from the original on 19 July 2020 Retrieved 17 July 2020 Union busting British Association of Journalist to be reported to the UN s International Labour Organisation National Union of Journalists 15 July 2020 retrieved 17 July 2020 Das Shanti Iran threatens to snatch Farsi reporters from British soil The Times ISSN 0140 0460 Retrieved 2020 07 31 More security for London based Iran International TV after threats English Alarabiya net Al Arabiya News Retrieved 10 February 2023 Citing Threats Iran International Moves Broadcasts to US www voanews com Retrieved 2023 02 20 Iran International Channel leaves UK after regime threats BBC News 2023 02 18 Retrieved 2023 02 20 Gambrell Jon Iran International moves broadcasts from UK to US amid fears for journalists safety www timesofisrael com Retrieved 2023 02 20 Iran International moves shows to Washington citing threats AP NEWS 2023 02 18 Retrieved 2023 02 20 External links EditOfficial website in Persian English and Arabic Iran International on Twitter Iran International s channel on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Iran International amp oldid 1141703695, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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