Feb 9 β€’ 13:49 UTC πŸ‡ΆπŸ‡¦ Qatar Al Jazeera

Why did the Iranian official channel cut off the broadcast of Bezhkian's speech?

The Iranian official news channel abruptly halted a broadcast of President Massoud Bezhkian's project inauguration speech after he criticized the channel's coverage.

In a recent incident, Iranian media released a video capturing the moment when the official news channel of the Islamic Republic of Iran abruptly cut the broadcast of a conference during which President Massoud Bezhkian was inaugurating various projects. This interruption occurred mere minutes after Bezhkian criticized the channel for not providing adequate coverage and for broadcasting misleading information. He declared that the channel's actions were unimportant and emphasized the need for proper reporting to inform the public about their efforts to resolve pressing issues.

The broadcast cut came after a reminder from the conference organizer about the need to manage time correctly, as another news channel was broadcasting the event. This disruption not only highlights internal tensions within the Iranian media landscape but also underscores the persistent challenges faced by reformist or moderate leaders when interacting with the state-controlled media. The Iranian broadcasting organization, which operates directly under the supreme leader, has historically been embroiled in disputes regarding its editorial policies, particularly with reformist figures.

This incident raises continuing questions about the role and responsibilities of state media in Iran, especially in the context of the ongoing battle between traditional conservative narratives and the desire for transparency and reform. Such conflicts reveal deeper societal rifts regarding media freedom and the expectations of citizens towards their government and its institutions.

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