Iran News Media

This semester the Middle East has seen an ordeal of unrest and revolts. It started in Tunisia on Jan. 14 and spread like wildfire through many other Middle Eastern and Northern African (MENA) countries. Due to this unrest, the global media has kept its eye on all MENA countries. The media’s watchful examination on the region has brought about an important question: How is the media influencing their citizens? While keeping this question in mind, I took a look into the media in Iran.

Iran was not a large participant in the MENA unrests and calls for reform, and speculation can’t help but rise if it’s due to the information distribution. In order to evaluate the media structure in Iran, the knowledge that government is an extremely influential body in every aspect of life must be regarded.

The press in Iran is considered “relatively free,” even though every news publication is government owned. This means that although there is an overwhelming civilian want for newspapers to be more transparent, the papers are pressured to stay in line with the ideals of the government; if they don’t, there are severe consequences. The Internet in Iran is also relatively free. Although websites have been blocked in the past, the future looks bright for Iranian Internet use. The overwhelming majority of Internet users in Iran, roughly 43% of the population, enjoy the same type of websites as Americans do in the United States including blogging sites, Facebook and Google. As far as telecommunications is concerned, Iran ranks 29 in cell phone usage worldwide. This number is continually growing as the population increases.

Media censorship in Iran is tightly controlled. In the MENA scope of nations, Iran ranks second to worst in most censored and according to the Press Freedom Index, out of 178 nations, Iran ranks 175 in most censored. This is not shocking considering the government, being an Islamic Republic, wants to control the output of media. It is easy to detect the strict censorship in news articles such as the 2009 presidential election articles and the more recent killing of Osama Bin Laden.

One part of the media that is detectable in other nations is conglomerations. The United States and many other nations are filled with the; however, when looking into Iran’s media there is not one. Because the media is completely government operated, there is no room for conglomeration. The closest thing the media has to conglomeration is the two large news agencies that control all aspects of the news- from radio to print. IRIB and the IRNA are the two large media “conglomerates” that act as the censored mouthpieces for the government.

Globalization has affected many nations, including Iran. Iran’s population is majorly Islamic, and due to their religious affiliation, the civilians have strict and morals and values. These values transfer into daily activities. There hasn’t been much change in the older generations of the adult population as far as how they interact daily, but the young adult population has taken new products to heart. The young adults are the majority of Internet and telecommunication users, and value their right to use the tools of blogging and Face-booking. The youth of the nation hasn’t gotten as into Wii and computer gaming as other nations have. They still interact with each other to play soccer and go to school.

In looking back at the unrest and rebellions that took place at the start of the semester, it is clear to see why it didn’t flood effectively in Iran. The answer is simple: government censorship and control. The media structure in Iran is nearly the most censored in the world, and although it may be considered “relatively free” on paper, in reality and in comparison with other nations, it’s not at all.

OSAMA BIN LADEN DEAD Twice?

According to US intelligence and an announcement by President Obama, Osama Bin Laden was killed May 2 in Abbottabad, Pakistan during a special operations mission carried out by SEAL Team Six. The news that the mastermind behind the September 11 attacks had been killed sparked mass celebrations and, in contrast, a wave of conspiracy theories within and outside the US.

A nonprofit news website named RT: Question More came out with an article questioning the date of Osama Bin Laden's death. 

Osama Bin Laden

In the article it sates that Iranian Intelligence Minister Heyda Moslehi has information claiming Osama Bin Laden died from an illness before the US raid in Abbottabad. There are documents to prove it.

"We have credible information that Bin Laden died some time ago of a disease," Moslehi was quoted by ISNA news agency. "We believe that what the US is seeking is to overshadow the recent awakening in the region through the release of such reports."

In a FARS news report, Moslehi asked the questions millions are wondering, "Why don't they show him [his body]? Why have they thrown his corpse into the sea?"

Comments left after this article was produced read:
"Are you really going to rely on the US government for the truth?" -Robert Ortegon
"I believe it. This is clearly just a reelection stunt for Obama. Obama lied to the voters to get elected in 2008 and he is lying again." -Eric

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness: a spreading idea

Leader Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf

A speech made in Cairo, Egypt by President Obama in 2009 is still ringing in the ears of democracy-supporting Persians in Iran. Muslim leader Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf said at a conference in Seattle, Washington that he is “hopeful” Iran will release the two remaining imprisoned hikers in Tehran.

At the conference Friday, the Imam spoke on Islamaphobia and the “Arab Spring”- a desire of the Middle Eastern people to live in democracy. He recognized the countries have been suffering in centuries of colonial and authoritarian rule and feel that the “Arab Spring” is lasting.

He feels it will move country to country, similar to the way the French Revolution was sparked by the American. “My feeling is that Gaddafi’s days are numbered,” he said of the ruler that has ruled Libya for four decades.

Feisal Abdul Rauf was Imam of Masjid-al-Farah, a mosque in New York City from 1983 to 2009. In 2010 the Imam proposed the creation of an Islamic Community Center, Park51, located two blocks from Ground Zero.

The Community Center drew instant controversy due to its religious affiliation.

“They understood our vision,” the Imam said about the community board in support for Park51. “They knew this would be open to all the community, they knew me personally. They knew the opposition came mostly from outside the community.”

A new generation in the Arab world is arising called the “Arab Spring” that has been using the tools of globalization to further their quest for democracy.

‘We want what this guy [the US] has’ is the mentality of supporters of the “Arab Spring.” President Obama has tried to implement the values of what the US has since the start of his presidency. He has drawn similarities and common values between the Muslims and Americans.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are the values that everyone wants, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf pointed out. Those are the values President Obama has shown the world the US embodies.

It takes a lot for people of another nation to recognize the positivity in another way of life. The Imam is conveying to Americans that people of Iran have realized the way of American life is positive and that Persians want the same things: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

OSAMA BIN LADEN DEAD

Newspapers around the globe made known Osama Bin Laden's death.

The New York Post made this common image of Bin Laden the entire front of their paper on Monday. The size of the print and amount of opinion in both the Post and Daily news is highly unusual for a normal newspaper publication. Because these are periodicals, it is more widely accepted. 

This Daily News headline says it all. It shows, based on these two publications, that there is a negative stigma and high hatred towards Osama Bin Laden within the US.

This Nicaraguan paper shows the facts sans opinion: "Bin Laden dies in a US operation in Pakistan." The article inside the paper has the details of the mission, as given by the US officials as well as images and commentary. The important thing to note is that with this publication as well as others outside the US, there isn't as much of a negative spin on Bin Laden because it was the US that was directly affected by the events surrounding 9/11.

Tehran Times

In Tehran, Bin Laden became the lead story of the day on Tuesday. The media in Iran, including this publication, is entirely government owned and operated. This means that the publishing of Bin Laden's death was a bold move by the government due to the fact that Iran is rumored to be financing organizations like Al Qaeda. 

When President Obama gave his speech to the American people late Sunday night, he made sure to note that the killing of Osama was a victory not just for the American people, but an international victory. Executing him meant the execution of a terrorist, but the execution of the world's most wanted man. 

As President Obama said, "Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader, he was a mass murderer of Muslims."

In Iran, the Tehran Times noted President Obama's speech and felt the efforts of the CIA was a bold move towards disrupting the moves of the Al Qaeda organization.  Iranian officials acknowledged the act of terrorism Osama dealt on the American people, but feels that waging a mass campaign and assuming occupation in multiple foreign nations was unnecessary in the hunt for Bin Laden.

"We hope that this incident will bring an end to war, conflict, and the killing of innocent people and help establish people in the region," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast stated. 

"This event clearly shows that there was no need to launch a massive military campaign to deal with a single person," he added. "The Islamic Republic of Iran, as one of the greatest victims of terrorism, condemns every kind of terrorism, such as the organized terrorism in the Zionist regime [Israeli state]."

The facts presented in the article published in Iran are all parallel to the facts presented in US publications.  The difference, however, is that the spokesman interviewed managed to back-handedly condemn the US for their occupation of Middle Eastern nations and for giving support to the Israeli nation. 

Although the newspapers in Iran were able to publish about Bin Laden's death, the publications were unable to focus on the negative aspects of his life. Bin Laden was noted as "allegedly the operational mastermind of the September 11 attacks." It is the government's way of censoring what the Iranian people can learn and know. 

President Obama spoke in the East Wing of the White House at an impromptu news conference late Sunday night.

Ring, ring, ring....anyone there?

In contrary to what may be popular belief, Iranians are very inter-connected to each other.

How? Telecommunication. In other words, Telephones.

The mobile market in Iran is, as expected, the least developed of all the nations in the Middle Eastern region. 66% of the mobile market is nationally operated under the name MTN Irancell. The Telecommunication Company of Iran is another mobile telecommunications operator. TCI is privatized and a 50% plus one share is owned by the state.

In order for mobile licenses to be given, the consortium must go through a difficult road. A third license tender, Tamin Telecom, was created in 2009 after a year of trying. The license was confirmed in 2010 and the telecommunications operator was able to begin running.

Despite the difficulties the companies must go through to get a license, it is a very enticing market. It is attractive because new operators can tap into 3G licenses that other nations such as the US have.

It is difficult for any form of digital media to flourish in Iran because the government regulations are very strict and censorship and internet media banning is very high.

Internet in Iran has grown from having 250,000 users in 2000 (3.8% of the population) to 33,200,000 users in 2010 (43.2% of the population). Although these numbers seem high, there is still about 57% of the population disconnected from the virtual online world.

The fact that the majority of people are lacking internet access and cell phone usage is shocking to see because in America it appears that almost everyone has internet and access to a cell phone.

An ongoing hiking mishap

Two hikers accused of espionage and illegal entry will go to trial on May 11 after spending 19 months in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison.

Joshua F. Fattal

Joshua F. Fattal and Shane M. Bauer, both 28, and Sarah E. Shourd, 32, were hiking near the Iranian border in June 2009 when they unknowingly entered Iranian territory. Shourd was released on bail last September for medial reasons.

Judges have delayed a verdict in the case twice before, crediting it to the absence of Shourd.

According to Fattal and Bauer’s lawyer, Masoud Shafiee, Shourd has been summoned in a letter from Iran’s Foreign Ministry to return, but it is unlikely she will.

“When there are several accused persons, a judge cannot postpone the case just because one of them is not present,” Shafiee noted. “The judge must issue separate verdicts for Shane and Josh. Sarah’s verdict can be issued in absentia, or her case alone can be delayed.”

In an interview in November, Shourd said that she, Mauer and Fattal were hiking on an unmarked dirt road and accidentally crossed into Iran.

Shane M. Bauer

Iranian officials have acknowledged that the border region is marked inadequately, but will continue the trials this month.

It seems obvious that the hikers were unaware they were in Iranian territory. It isn’t fair the government wont let them go. I feel for these three Americans. They should’ve been more aware of their surrounding or taken a guide to hike with them, but if the government knows it is easy to mistake the trail and border then it shouldn’t even be much of an issue in the first place. The border guard should’ve just told them to turn around.

The Freedom House reflects reality

The Middle East and North Africa Freedom House ratings for 2010 from least to most censored according to freedomhouse.org.

1. Israel
2. Kuwait
3. Lebanon
4. Egypt
5. Jordan
6. Algeria
7. Iraq
8. Morocco
9. Qatar
10. Bahrain
11. Oman
12. United Arab Emirates
13. Yemen
14. Saudi Arabia
15. Syria
16. IOT/PA [Israeli Occupied Territory/ Palestinian Authority]
17. Tunisia
18. Iran
19. Libya

The press in the nations listed above have a strict standard of censorship and freedom. Israel is the only country considered "free" in the MENA region. Kuwait, Lebanon and Egypt are considered "partially free" and the remaining 16 nations are considered not free.

For Iran, this means that the media is completely censored by the government. During the 2009 presidential bid of Mohammed Khamtami, many websites and news articles were blocked from the Iranian people.

Yaarinews.com, Yaan.ir, and Khatami.ir were three of the websites blocked during his running.

Why were these sites blocked?

According to Behrouz Shojaei, editor for one of the sites listed above noted the dispute between Khatami and Ahmadinejad as the reasoning.

"At midday, we learned that our Web sites have been blocked," Shojaei said. "Closing down our Web sites means hard-liners are not going to tolerate Khatami challenging Ahmadinejad."

The control the government has in daily news-media life is very prominent and easy to detect in Iran as well as other MENA nations. It is sad knowing that the people aren't given the proper information to choose their government. Although there are elections, it is still controlled because the people are given the information by the government itself.

Using the internet in Iran

The internet and email was created originally for military intelligence use in the US. It has since spread to nearly every single country on Earth, including Iran. Iran’s internet usage has continually increased since it was introduced into the country.

To begin in the 21st century in the year 2000, Iran had 250,000 users. Another way to look at this is as 3.8% of the population based on a population of 69,442,905. By 2002 the usage jumped to 5,500,000, in other words 7.5%. By 2008 23,000,000 Iranians were using the internet, and by 2010 33,200,000 people were using. This is almost half of the population: 43.2%.

How has this affected daily life in Iran?

The Persian people are one of tradition. From the woman’s desire to cover their faces, to the men’s desire to go to the Mosque and pray, centuries of day to day life have stayed the same.

Recently, however, people are realizing the advantages of the internet. According to Alexa.com, it is clear to see a favorite activity of the Iranian people is blogging. Of the top fifteen sites, five of them are geared towards blogging. Other to sites include Google (number one), Yahoo (number two), Wikipedia (number eight), and Facebook (number thirteen).

The pros of having these websites in the top fifteen is that the Iranian people can become easily informed. They can do their own searching instead of constantly relying of the government, and they are seen to the outside world as regular people- searching and doing the same things we are: blogging, face-booking, searching, etc.

Unfortunately, there are cons to the increasing internet access. The people of Iran are seeing how the outside world is interacting and conducting themselves, and they are realizing that they are living under harsher conditions that other people in other countries. Although this is something they already knew, they are more tempted to try to rebel which is detrimental to the people because the government is extremely zero tolerance in terms of speaking out against the government.

Internet access is not the only thing that is on the rise. Telephone usage has been climbing as well. In 2007, Iran ranked number 29 in cell phone usage worldwide. It had a total number of 29,770,000 of its citizens connected by cellphone. This number has since increased and will continue to do so with the growing times and growing population.

This introduction to new technology has helped Iran immerse into mainstream society. It isn’t viewed as a third world country and will never become one if it stays on its current course. The people of Iran are doing a great job of expressing their views (while holding their tongue against the government) through blogging and keeping in touch with family and friends.

It’s a great thing that technology has reached this part of the Middle East. The Islamic regimes easily dictate their citizens, and knowing that the people have the freedom to blog and talk to whomever they want is a relief and calms the negative stigma outside nations may have towards Persians.

Top 10 sites according to alexa.com
1. Google
2. Yahoo
3. BLOGFA
4. Peyvandha.ir
5. MihanBlog
6.PersianBlog
7. Varzesh3.com
8. Wikipedia
9. Tabnak.ir
10. Cloob.com

Why is it?

While browsing the world wide web I came across a Los Angeles Times article that gave insight into the minds of Persians and their take on the Arab protests and unrest.

Mozhgan Faraji, a 33-year-old Iranian journalist was interviewed and subsequently brought up a good point.

"Why on Earth are the Western powers not interested int he unrest in Yemen and Bahrain?" she told the Times. "Are human rights in Yemen and Bahrain not as important as in Libya? Perhaps the Western countries are worried about the emerging revolutionary brand of Shiite in the region. But honestly, I am happy that the crazy leader of Libya is oing to be toppled."

This made me wonder, why are we paying greater attention to Libya than to other revolting nations? Are we paying too much attention to Moammar Kadafi and his overwhelmingly wanted dismissal from power?

Other Iranians interviewed agreed on one key statement: Kadafi has to go.

Some, like 48-year old Dokhi Sofi felt that the protests were a result of Western interference.

"I think Great Britain and the U.S. administration are behind the unrest in the region," she said. "They did the same with us 32 years ago and now the pro-U.S. and pro- U.K. are emerging in Bahrain, Yemen and Libya. So the next regimes in these countries will be sort of Islamic. Like the Islamic Republic of Yemen or Bahrain."

These two views of the uprisings has me wondering how media is portraying the Western world in their publications. Is Iran printing anti-western articles purposely to fuel the hatred some Iranians already have for us or were these ideas created on their own?

Nowruz address: A happy? new year

On Sunday, President Obama delivered his third annual Nowruz address to Iranians. Nowruz is the first day of spring and marks the New Year for the Iranian people. It is a festival that has been celebrated for over 3,000 years.

Obama began his speech talking about other nations and then focused in on Iran.

The Iranian government has demonstrated that "it cares far more about preserving its own power than respecting the rights of the Iranian people," he said.

He then followed that statement by reminding Iranians that "the future of Iran will not be shaped by fear, the future of Iran belongs to the young people -- the youth who will determine their own destiny."

What President Obama neglected to realize is that Nowruz is a holiday of joy and happiness. It is a holiday to be care-free, addressing the values of peace, compassion, justice, and brotherhood. By insulting the Iranian government on this cultural holiday and festival, he was insulting the people.

Ayatollah Khamenei, in an address marking Nowruz on March 22, charged Obama and the US with hypocrisy.

"The real hypocrite is the US," said the Iranian Leader. "With regards to Egypt they said we are with the nation but they lied. They cooperated with the nation's enemy until the very last moment...Now the US president sends a message to the Iranian people that we support you."

This negative reaction didn't only come from the Iranian leaders.

Kazem Anbarlouie, editor in chief of the conservative hard-line daily Resalat felt that, "Either President Obama is misinformed by his advisors or he has got the true information and pretends otherwise...Iran is calm and people are enjoying their New Year's holiday...The American is over-generalizing about the whole nation from this half percent [the protesters]."

President Obama had good intentions with his Nowruz address but greatly missed the mark. Maybe it would've been better to skip the Iranian criticism's and considered that it was a holiday. There are 364 other days Obama can condemn President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for his governing styles. Perhaps the day of the New Year's celebration isn't the right day to do it.

To globalize, or not?

The culture in Iran is a mix of pre-Islamic and Islamic culture. In the country’s early creation, it took influences from places such as India and China. Iran has, since making its mark in the Global World, in turn influenced other nations such as Western Europe, Africa, China, India, and the Roman Civilization.

The culture of Iran reflects the religion of Islam and the practices and beliefs it embodies. Islam influences the political system and social order of the country making change harder here than elsewhere.

Because Iranians are so set in their Islamic ways, globalization does not affect them as much as it affects other countries. Children are still out in the streets playing soccer and men are still praying at the Call to Prayer five times a day.

Globalization, being the huge phenomena it is, has affected Iran in terms of separating the rural from the urban. It has divided the country socially and economically, but the majority of people still rely on the old ways of conduct and life.

Some Iranians, living through an Islamic Republic, see globalization as “world arrogance” or simply put-imperialism. They refuse to interact in the arrogance and stick to the way of life they are used to. They feel that countries that have embraced globalization have lost a sense of vision and affection for their country and culture.



A few things that Iranians have accepted into their society are television, internet, and cell phone usage. They have recently been exploring different areas of the three venues, but the chance of publicizing and copying the shows of other cultures and nations is small.

The fact that globalization has minimally affected life in Iran is a little bit scary. Iran is a part of the world and if they keep themselves in the dark, they will lag behind. Luckily, as the years go on, things, people, and ideas are becoming more progressive. This will in turn hopefully have a positive effect on the global community.

Ousted: Iran's President of the Assembly of Experts

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

Former moderate Iranian president and opposition member, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, has lost his position as head of the Assembly of Experts.

Rafsanjani was criticized as being too close to the reformist opposition and subsequently withdrew his candidacy as President of the Assembly of Experts, a position he has held since 2007.

Rafsanjani had a fall-out with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the 2009 presidential poll-the aftermath tolling dozens of deaths and hundreds of arrests.

Rafsanjani, a pragmatic conservative, publicly called for political freedoms and the release of political prisoners. He repeated his opinions on numerous occasions and is widely known to disagree with Ahmadinejad.

Is it any coincidence that in the midst of all of these Middle Eastern revolutions and riots, one of the last remaining moderates is ousted and his position is taken over by a Presidential choice? I think not.

Sailing the Suez is Now Over

Iranian naval ship Alvand

Two Iranian warships passed through the Suez Canal on Feb. 22. The objective: to train naval students, enhance ties with countries in the region, and to provide security across shipping lines in the pirate haven of the Gulf of Aden.

The bold move to sail Iranian flags throughout the Mediterranean initially evoked anger from Israel. The two ships, Khark and Alvand, docked a mere two days after their departure at the port of Latikia, Syria.

According to Press TV, Khark and Alvand, "carried the message of peace and friendship to world countries"

"The flotilla...has completed its mission successfully in the Mediterranean Sea and has returned to the Red Sea" said naval commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayari.

Citizens Shushed

In a rally calling for the release of Iranian opposition leaders in Tehran, citizens were tear-gassed by security forces. The protesters were seen singing anti-government slogans and comparing Iranian authority to the overthrown Tunisian president.

Iranian leaders and security forces tried to keep the people quiet in the midst of rebellions and revolutions occurring in surrounding countries. In my opinion, the people have a right to be heard and it is against instinctual human urge to stay quiet. What the government did is abominable and it's sad that no one could stop it.

Media Conglomeration

Media conglomeration can produce increased profit margin, vertical integration of media as well as horizontal integration of media. Conglomeration can also fail to successfully accomplish the same objective as a venue of specific concentration.


It affects who owns the media, how it's produced and exported, the content the media provides, and the impact it has on its audiences.

Media conglomeration is affecting countries throughout the world. It is providing international communication and a medium for which information can be transferred easily and efficiently. It can be scene as a positive entity, providing voices across the world and can be seen negatively as well.

Through media conglomeration, smaller companies aren't able to make it in the big arena that larger corporations are. Conglomerates are also fiscally driven, causing the news to be driven to the "bottom line" for whatever can make the largest dollar.

In Iran, there is no chance of media conglomeration because the media is government controlled. Television stations are controlled under the monopoly of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting service (IRIB). Newspaper ownership is controlled by either the IRIB or the IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency), meaning the mass media in Iran is dictated through the government, leaving diminutive room for oppositional views.

The only way to get media outside of Iran is by using satellites, which are illegal. Recently, news sites such as fararu.com and sahamnews.org have been blocked, leaving no room for questioning whether or not Iran's government is trying to keep their citizens from total knowledge of the revolutions taking place in other countries.

Although media conglomeration can be seen as a good thing to international society as a whole, there is no chance of media conglomeration happening within the borders of Iran.

Will There Be Computer Warfare?

A cyber "ghost attack" hit Iran's Natanz nuclear plant's centrifuge program in 2010 that caused a set back in Iran's low-enriched uranium production. This element is the fuel for nuclear power plants and, with further processing, nuclear bombs.

The cyber attack came in the form of a computer worm known as Stuxnet. Stuxnet essentially hijacked the plant's control system, causing the centrifuges to spin so rapidly that they began to break.

The key to this malware is that as it spun the centrifuges out of control, it relayed false messages of normality back to the computer so the rapid spinning would go unnoticed.

This setback to the nuclear plant was in no way detrimental. It was instead an obstacle that Iran has been able to overcome.

"If nothing else, it hit their confidence," said Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) president, David Albright, "and it will make them feel more vulnerable in the future."

As of Feb. 2011, the Natanz facilities have recovered and are back to producing low- enriched uranium.

No one is claiming ownership of this technological weapon that destroyed roughly a fifth of the plant's nuclear centrifuges. Perhaps no one wants to take credit for it becuase it can potentially begin a cyber war, a war that can easily spin out of control.

How Does the Media Work?

In Iran there is a "relatively free press" with many daily and weekly newspapers in circulation.  Every newspaper is licensed and can only publish stories allowed by the law and constitution. This means all publications are not at liberty to print all stories objectively.

Since the election of President Ahmadinejad, there has been fear of a mass closure of publications mirroring the mass closure in 2000. Fortunately, no mass closure has been issued; however, journalists have been called to officials such as the Supreme National Security Council and threatened against publishing articles critical of the government.

Most recently, the Supreme National Security Council has required all publications to cease distribution of any information or analyses on the nuclear issue and negotiations with the U.S. that differ from executive policy.

This leaves newspapers and journalists facing a challenge. The people want the newspapers to be more transparent with the people, but are pressured to stay in line with the government.

The press restrictions are even less than that of the broadcasters. Television has captured over 80% of Iranians as regular viewers. Almost all television- broadcasting networks are state-run and operated. This includes the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), which created Press TV.

IRIB has radio channels that are also widely listened to.

The internet is an easy way for middle-class households to get the news. News websites are often politically influenced and Iranian bloggers are at an all-time high.

Authorities not only try to censor newspapers and broadcasters, but they try to filter and limit what is seen online as well. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Flickr and YouTube are all blocked in Iran and many bloggers and activists have been arrested for their defiant posts against the government.

Top five papers are:

Tehran Times [English-language daily, published by state-run body]
Iran Daily [English-language, published by IRNA]
Iran News [English-language]
Aftab-e Yazd [Reformist daily]
Kayhan [Conservative daily]

Top television:
IRIB [State-run, operates four networks, provincial and international services]
Press TV [IRIB’s English-language channel]

Top News Agencies:
Islamic Republic News Agency [IRNA, state-run]
Iranian Students News Agency [ISNA, English-language]
Fars News Agency [English-language, Revolutionary Guards]
Mehr News Agency [English-language, Islamic Propagation Organization]

Imperialism: From the West to the Middle East

Cultural imperialism has been apparent in Iran from the start of the Arab Empire in the 7th century. The official language of Iran is Farsi, an Indo-European mix. It embraces a modified version of the Arabic alphabet and is the only nation that uses the Islamic solar calendar, which begins with the year of the Prophet Muhammad’s travel to Medina.

In the past century, the West has- on more than one occasion- tried to force cultural imperialism for economic reasons related to the oil industry. These efforts have subsequently backfired.

Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

In 1941 Mohammad Reza Pahlavi became shah- ruling monarch- of Iran, expanding Iran’s pro-Western policies. In 1951, headed by Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh, parliament passed a bill that nationalized the oil industry, angering Western companies and governments.

This presented an opportunity for Western imperialism. Headed by Dr. Donald N. Wilber, a CIA spy and architectural expert, a plan was conceived to assist in a coup of the Iranian government.

In 1953, Mossadgh led anti-monarchy protests causing the shah to leave Iran. Pro-shah forces backed by the CIA and British agencies successfully led a coup, which resulted in the return of the shah and takeover of Mossadegh.

This was seen as the first successful overthrow of a foreign government in modern day.

By placing the shah back into power, the U.S. and Britain held close relations with Iran and subsequently, the oil industry.

The coup was a significant milestone in Iranian history and was the flame that ignited the Iranian Revolution of 1979.

In 1963, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a supreme religious leader of Iran’s Shiite community denounced the shah and was consequently forced into exile in 1964. The shah was noted to rule the nation “with an iron hand for 26 more years” which created civilian unrest and suppression until the Revolution.

When protestors took over Tehran and other parts of Iran in 1978, the shah left, letting Khomeini return. In doing so, Khomeini declared Iran the Islamic Republic of Iran on April 1, 1979.

The attempted imperialism of Iran in the coup of 1953 backfired, leaving the Islamic Republic of Iran in continual Western disgust. Khomeini supported attacks against the U.S. merely because of the involvement in the coup.

It is recognized now by the former U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright that the U.S. involvement in the coup was“ clearly a setback for Iran's political development. And it is easy to see now why many Iranians continue to resent this intervention by America in their internal affairs."


To view a full timeline of the past seven decades, click on this Los Angeles Times article.

A Quick Background

In Iran, the government is extremely influential in what the media can produce. The news media was a relatively free press before the presidential election of 2009. With the election of an ultra-conservative president, the government has become more involved in the news media.

Some background on the current status of government in Iran:

The government official with the highest reigning power is the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He has the power to appoint the head of the judiciary, military leaders, Friday prayer leaders, six members of the 12-member Guardian Council and the head of radio and TV.

Ayatollah Khamenei was appointed Supreme Leader for life in June 1989, ten years after the Iranian Revolution. He has come to defend the conservatives on several occasions including the controversial presidential election of 2009; a disputed election that initiated mass protests.

Beneath the Supreme Leader is the President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. President Ahmadinejad is an ultra-conservative whose outspoken style has the international community uneasy.