A significant disagreement has surfaced between Iran’s government and state broadcaster IRIB regarding how recent diplomatic and military developments are being portrayed to the public. The dispute centers on the broadcaster’s decision to omit portions of speeches by top officials discussing negotiations with the United States.
The Government Information Council formally accused IRIB of censorship after the state broadcaster excluded sections of a presidential address from earlier in the week. In his speech, President Masoud Pezeshkian discussed how the supreme leader had publicly stated there would be no talks with Washington while privately authorizing negotiations. IRIB responded by denying the accusation and stating its duty was to prevent portrayal of division among the country’s leadership. The government further documented instances where segments from interviews by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and judiciary head Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei were also not broadcast.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi separately criticized IRIB, noting that while he conducted interviews with major US media outlets to present Iran’s position, the broadcaster provided minimal coverage. Araghchi also rejected claims by hardline factions that a recently suspended agreement with the United States had been imposed on the new supreme leader. The government attributed the broadcaster’s actions to ultrahardline political factions operating within IRIB that could undermine national security. IRIB maintained its decisions were necessary to prevent the appearance of governmental discord.
Parliamentary oversight officials warned IRIB directors about the need to display diverse viewpoints and promote national unity. Meanwhile, mediators from Oman were present in Tehran to discuss management of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway central to US-Iran tensions. US President Donald Trump stated negotiations continued through intermediaries but indicated no agreement was expected imminently, while Iran’s security council secretary declared that military operations would persist until what officials characterized as enemy surrender.
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