A presenter from Iranian state television during a live broadcast, at the moment when the channel is targeted by an Israeli strike on June 16, 2025, in Iran. Screenshot.
As the war between Israel and Iran intensifies, international media outlets continue to cite Iranian news agencies for updates and statements. However, access to most of these outlets has been severely limited since Thursday, when the Iranian government imposed a nationwide internet blackout.
What are these agencies, and who controls them? L’Orient-Le Jour takes a closer look:
IRIB: State radio and television
The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) is Iran’s public media organization, created shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. According to Article 175 of the Iranian Constitution, IRIB is guaranteed freedom of expression and the right to disseminate ideas — so long as they adhere to "Islamic criteria" and promote the country's interests.
The agency operates under the direct authority of the supreme leader, who appoints and dismisses its director. IRIB is overseen by a supervisory council composed of representatives from the president’s office, the judiciary, and the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament).
On June 16, an Israeli airstrike hit IRIB’s main broadcasting center during a live broadcast. Transmission was abruptly cut as the anchor was delivering a harsh condemnation of Israel.
IRNA: The official news agency
Founded in 1934 by the Iranian Foreign Ministry under the name Pars Agency, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) is the country's oldest and most official news source. After the revolution, it was restructured and renamed. Today, IRNA is managed by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and is fully government-funded.
ISNA: The student news agency
The Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) was launched in 1999 and is primarily run by students, though it receives partial funding from the government and from the ACECR (Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research). ISNA was founded by journalist Abolfazl Fateh, a former supporter of opposition figure Mir Hossein Mousavi. Fateh has faced prosecution, including over a report involving Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights advocate Shirin Ebadi.
ISNA is widely regarded by international observers as a politically moderate source of information and is often cited by major global media outlets.
ILNA: Labor-focused reporting
The Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA), founded in 2003, is affiliated with the House of Workers, a state-controlled labor union. Its editorial stance is considered close to Iran’s reformist movement and it promotes a "justice-focused discourse."
Fars, Tasnim, and Sepah News: Close to the Revolutionary Guards
Fars News Agency, founded in 2003, and Tasnim News Agency, launched in 2012, are both considered semi-official outlets with close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s powerful ideological military force. Both agencies have been subject to U.S. sanctions.
Despite the ongoing internet blackout, Tasnim's website has remained accessible, making it one of the few Iranian outlets still reachable internationally.
Sepah News functions as a direct media arm of the IRGC and publishes content aligned with the organization’s military and ideological agenda.
Mehr News Agency: State-linked but religious in nature
Mehr News Agency (MNA), established in 2003, is also considered semi-official. While it receives government support, it is owned by the Islamic Development Organization — an entity overseen by the supreme leader. Mehr operates news centers across multiple Iranian provinces.
The Anti-Defamation League has labeled Mehr "an outlet for notorious Holocaust deniers," pointing to its publication of interviews with figures such as Robert Faurisson, a French academic known for Holocaust denial.
