Iran’s government spars with state TV as mediators push talks with US

A public disagreement has surfaced between Iran's government and its state television broadcaster regarding the portrayal of Iran's military posture and diplomatic engagement with the United States, occurring as international mediators encourage both nations toward negotiated settlement. The Government Information Council formally accused IRIB of censorship after the broadcaster omitted segments from a presidential address delivered earlier in the week.

In his speech, President Pezeshkian described how Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had publicly declared no negotiations with Washington following the previous year's 12-day conflict with Israel, yet privately authorized diplomatic engagement. The president stated that officials consulted with the supreme leader regarding the country's "no war, no peace" situation and received orders to pursue talks. IRIB's decision to exclude this portion prompted the government's censorship allegation.

IRIB responded by rejecting the government's accusations and asserting its responsibility to prevent "an incorrect and unreal suggestion of duality" within the country's leadership structure. The broadcaster's leadership is appointed by the supreme leader. The government indicated that similar editorial decisions had affected statements from parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and judiciary head Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei regarding negotiations and presidential support.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi separately criticized IRIB's coverage, noting that his interviews with international media outlets including Fox and CNN received minimal airtime on state television despite presenting Iran's position to American audiences and policymakers. Araghchi also addressed hardliner claims that a recently suspended memorandum of understanding with the United States was imposed on the new supreme leader, characterizing it instead as the optimal agreement achievable under existing circumstances.