Voice of America’s Persian-language service continued broadcasting inside Iran Saturday despite sweeping communications restrictions imposed by the regime, a VOA spokesperson told Fox News.
The U.S. Agency for Global Media said on X that VOA was amplifying President Donald Trump’s message about the U.S.-Israeli military campaign it described as “Operation Epic Fury.” Fox News reported that VOA aired Persian-language coverage of the campaign, reports about the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and remarks from Trump.
VOA, the U.S. government-funded international broadcaster overseen by USAGM, says on its website that it delivers news in 49 languages to a weekly global audience of more than 361 million people. The website says VOA launched Persian-language programming in 1979 and aims to counter disinformation and censorship by the Iranian regime.
All broadcast media in Iran is state-controlled, and private satellite dishes are illegal, the BBC reported, though foreign-based Persian-language satellite channels attract large audiences. Iranian authorities have imposed a near-total internet blackout during the latest unrest, with national connectivity reportedly falling to about 4%, The Jerusalem Post reported. Reporters Without Borders said at least seven journalists have been arrested since protests that began in December, which the group tied to economic collapse and inflation it said has soared to about 60 percent.
Earlier this week, the CIA posted a Persian-language video on its X account urging Iranian dissidents to make secure contact with the agency. The U.S. Agency for Global Media did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment, Fox News reported.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
