IRNA Plays Role In Countering Disinformation Amid Conflict In Iran

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Bernama) -- The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), as Iran’s official news agency, plays a key role in disseminating information and countering disinformation with speed, accuracy and precision amid the conflict that began in Iran on Feb 28.

Its Director of International Relations, Zaman Rezakhani, said IRNA has sought to raise the standards of professional journalism and has strived to maintain them during the conflict.

“So when we see that other media outlets use IRNA as their reliable source of information, we humbly feel that the path we chose was correct, and we try to follow the same path in the future,” he told BernamaTV’s Bernama World programme in a recorded interview on Monday.

Asked how IRNA maintains its objectivity during challenging times, Rezakhani said that one way is through documentation such as photographs and video reports.

He noted that the news agency has produced numerous photo and video reports despite the risks during the conflict.

“It is very risky. For example, recently, Israel targeted a fuel depot in Tehran, and a black cloud covered the city. Then it rained and all the dust fell over the city.

“My colleagues went out to the streets to take photos of the situation, to document the event, and to provide their audience with those photos and videos,” he said.

“I think the only reason that they do this is that they want to provide their audience with objective and reliable information,” Rezakhani added.

On the safety of journalists, he said IRNA is in contact with the Organisation of Asia Pacific News Agencies (OANA) to address the issue of safeguarding them.

“We (IRNA) do everything possible to protect the lives of our journalists. Still, journalism requires sacrifice and selflessness.

“It is a high-risk profession even in peacetime. At war, it becomes dangerous, and it becomes even more dangerous when aggressor forces do not care about the principles of humanitarian law,” he said.

The United States (US) and Israel began attacking Iran on Feb 28, prompting Tehran to retaliate and target US interests in countries in the region.

-- BERNAMA