Iranian Vice President Accuses State Broadcaster of Blocking, Biased Coverage

Iran's Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, Zehra Behrouz Azer, has publicly criticized the state broadcaster IRIB, accusing it of blocking coverage of President Masoud Pezeshkian and abandoning neutrality. In a post on the social media platform X, Behrouz Azer said Pezeshkian operates on the principle of serving "the pleasure of God and the people," and that if the president appears visibly uncomfortable, it signals that blocking and injustice have crossed a line. Behrouz Azer said IRIB only carries a small fraction of the president's concerns for Iran and its citizens. Her statement comes amid growing criticism within government circles over what officials describe as the broadcaster's biased publishing policies. The tensions highlight longstanding friction between successive Iranian administrations and the state media apparatus. IRIB holds a special status within Iran's political structure, operating independently from direct government control, and has frequently served as a point of contention between reformist and conservative factions. The public disagreement unfolds as the Pezeshkian administration confronts mounting economic hardships and broader governance challenges, fueling internal political debates over how the country should be run.