Iran's state broadcaster cut a recorded interview with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf during broadcast Wednesday, the third such interruption involving Qalibaf this week. The parliament's media center criticized the move, saying the interview had been submitted more than two hours before airtime. Iranian assessments suggest the cut occurred after Qalibaf addressed the $6 billion funds that were unfrozen from South Korea to Qatar for food and medicine purchases.
Iranian state television again cut off Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf mid-broadcast on Wednesday, this time during a recorded interview submitted more than two hours before airtime. The parliament's media center criticized the move, stating that if the broadcaster decided not to air parts of the interview, it should have coordinated with the parliament's coordination center. Iranian assessments cited by the source indicate the interruption came after Qalibaf addressed the transfer of $6 billion in previously frozen Iranian funds from South Korea to a restricted account in Qatar, designated for food and medicine purchases. The incident is the third such cut involving Qalibaf this week: on Tuesday night a live interview was cut without explanation, and earlier this week a hardline MP read an alleged classified document from Supreme Leader Khamenei regarding US talks during a live broadcast, prompting the resignation of the state broadcaster's manager. The pattern has fueled speculation about censorship of political figures who discuss sensitive negotiations with the United States, particularly regarding the MOU framework and the unfrozen funds.
- DevelopingIranian state TV again cuts Qalibaf off mid-speech, unexplained
- ConfirmedIranian parliament speaker says delegation walked out of US talks over Trump threats
- DevelopingIranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf denies Trump's claim on agricultural goods deal
- DevelopingIranian parliament speaker Ghalibaf shuts down parliament's legislative system
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
- Internal intake