Pressure of Truth
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Outlet profile

Press TV / IRNA

Iranian state media

Owned byPress TV is the English-language, 24-hour news channel of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Iran's state broadcaster. The head of IRIB is appointed by Iran's Supreme Leader. IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) is Iran's official state news agency. It operates under the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and the minister appoints its managing director.
FundingBoth outlets are funded mainly by the Iranian state. IRIB, Press TV's parent, receives a government budget allocated by parliament (about 240 trillion rials, roughly $400 million, for the Iranian year ending March 2025), plus some advertising. IRNA gets direct state allocations and limited commercial income from advertising and content syndication.
On the administrationbroadly critical

Background

Press TV is owned by IRIB and was launched in 2007 as an English-language channel presenting Iran's view to international audiences. IRNA is Iran's official news agency and serves as the government's main channel for domestic and international news. Independent monitors such as State Media Monitor have classified IRNA as 'state-controlled' in every cycle from 2022 to 2026. Press TV has been sanctioned by U.S. and European authorities, which link IRIB to censorship and state propaganda. It has also faced broadcasting bans in several countries, including in the UK, where Ofcom revoked its licence in 2012. Media-bias monitors treat Press TV as a state propaganda outlet. Its coverage generally supports Iranian government positions and is critical of the United States, Israel and Western governments. Both outlets are useful for learning official Iranian positions, but readers should treat their factual claims and framing with caution and check them against independent reporting.

Sources

  1. Press TV (Wikipedia)
  2. Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) – State Media Monitor
  3. Press TV - Bias and Credibility - Media Bias/Fact Check
  4. Q&A: All you need to know about Iran's state broadcaster – Iran International
  5. Press TV – Iran Monitor

Profile compiled 2026-10-17; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.

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