Mohammad Hoseyn Saffar-Harandi, the Iranian minister of culture and Islamic guidance, has said: “The BBC Persian TV Channel will not operate in Iran because it does not have a license.” Asked by Fars News Agency correspondent why the English website and TV channel of the BBC are permitted to work in Iran while its Persian one is considered illegal, Saffar-Harandi said: “The rhetoric used by some media is different to their motives.”
The minister made the remarks at a press conference which was held on the sidelines of the Sixth Cultural-Art Festival of Imam Reza.
(Source: Fars News Agency website, Tehran, in Persian 1102 gmt 26 Oct 08 via BBC Monitoring)
on Oct 26th, 2008 at 18:45
what wonderfully vague language. Does it mean BBC Persian service can’t operate bureau there? BBC Persian TV cannot interview the government (like Zimbabwe?) or does it mean the satellite signal may not be distributed inside Iran?
on Nov 6th, 2008 at 08:50
What a strange comment from the minister!!!. But Press TV an Iranian TV news channel is broad casting from London!! would it be fair if the British Government tells the Islamic Republic the same regarding Press TV?