By Admin
Iranian military authorities have warned that three prominent Persian-language media organisations could be placed on the country’s list of potential military targets, escalating Tehran’s rhetoric against independent and foreign-based broadcasters.
Senior Iranian Armed Forces spokesman, Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, named Iran International, BBC and Radio Farda, saying the outlets were not regarded by Tehran as ordinary media organisations.
According to remarks reported by Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency on Wednesday, Shekarchi described the organisations as hostile entities and said their personnel could be treated as “soldiers” aligned with Israel and the United States.
“We do not view these news organisations as media,” Shekarchi was quoted as saying, adding that those working for the outlets could be included in what he called Iran’s “bank of military targets.”
The Iranian military spokesman further alleged that the three organisations had direct links with Israel’s Mossad, the US Central Intelligence Agency and other intelligence agencies, claiming they receive instructions and financial support from them. No evidence was provided to substantiate the allegations.
Shekarchi also accused the outlets of encouraging violence and promoting what Iranian authorities consider hostile narratives against the Islamic Republic. He urged Iran’s domestic media organisations to strengthen their international reach and communicate with audiences beyond Persian-speaking communities.
The warning comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and its international adversaries, with the Iranian military increasingly portraying the media as a key front in what it describes as an information or “perceptual” war. Earlier on Wednesday, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesman said media had become a frontline in efforts to shape public perceptions during the ongoing conflict.
The latest threat has raised concerns over the safety of journalists and media workers associated with the named organisations, particularly given previous threats against Persian-language journalists and broadcasters operating outside Iran. Iran International has previously reported threats against its journalists, including an alleged assassination plot targeting two of its presenters in 2022.
The remarks also come as Tehran has adopted a more aggressive military posture. An Iranian army spokesperson said on Wednesday that the country had shifted its military doctrine from a defensive to an offensive posture, including preparations for pre-emptive action and the use of new tactics and equipment in future conflicts.
The designation of media organisations as potential military targets marks a significant escalation in Tehran’s rhetoric and could further intensify concerns about press freedom and the protection of journalists amid the wider Iran-related conflict.
