Iranian State Television Cuts Live Broadcast of President Pezeshkian During Inauguration Ceremony
In a notable instance of friction between the executive branch and state media, Iranian state television abruptly cut its live broadcast of President Masoud Pezeshkian during an official ceremony on Tuesday. The incident occurred while the President was attending the inauguration of several new infrastructure projects, an event typically afforded extensive coverage by the state-run media apparatus.
The disruption in coverage was precipitated by a tense on-air exchange between the President and a correspondent from the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). As the ceremony progressed, the state television reporter intervened to remind the President of the network’s scheduling constraints. Addressing President Pezeshkian directly while on air, the reporter stated, “We are live. We would appreciate it if you manage the time correctly.”
The comment, which appeared to prioritize the broadcaster’s schedule over the proceedings of the presidential inauguration, prompted an immediate and dismissive reaction from President Pezeshkian. Visibly unconcerned by the pressure to conform to the television timeline, Pezeshkian retorted, “Don’t broadcast it, it’s not important.”
Following this terse verbal exchange, the state broadcaster acted on the sentiment, ceasing the transmission of the program. The feed was cut, effectively removing the President’s remaining activities and remarks from the airwaves.
This incident highlights the significant autonomy wielded by Iran’s state television, which operates under a structure distinct from the presidential administration. The decision to terminate the broadcast following the disagreement suggests a rigid enforcement of broadcast protocols, even at the expense of censoring the country’s highest-ranking elected official during a public engagement. The abrupt end to the coverage has drawn attention to the internal dynamics and lack of coordination between the President’s office and the state’s primary media organ.
