Eighteen members of the Iranian Parliament issued a notice to the Minister of Culture, protesting the ministry's directive concerning the coverage of news related to the Vienna nuclear agreement. They emphasized that the Supreme National Security Council has made 'no resolution' regarding 'media restrictions and praise' for this agreement. Recently, a 'highly confidential' directive attributed to the Director General of Press at the Ministry of Culture was circulated on social media, which cited resolutions from the Supreme National Security Council and provided guidelines for media coverage of the Vienna nuclear agreement, requesting that they 'praise' the Iranian negotiating team. The Ministry of Culture also asked media outlets to publish Western parties' statements about the Vienna nuclear agreement only alongside a 'suitable response' from the Iranian side. According to this directive, media should avoid 'implying duality' in the positions of 'high-ranking officials' of the Islamic Republic regarding the Vienna agreement. However, on Tuesday, August 6, 18 parliament members, including Hamid Rasai, Morteza Aqa Tehrani, Ahmad Tavakoli, Elias Naderan, and Mahmoud Nabavian, stated in their notice to the Minister of Culture that the Supreme National Security Council has 'no resolution' regarding 'media restrictions and praise' for the Vienna nuclear agreement. According to ISNA news agency, these representatives have requested the publication of the Supreme National Security Council's resolution text on this matter. Meanwhile, according to Tasnim news agency, Ahmad Tavakoli, a representative from Tehran, stated that 'based on inquiries from the National Security Council,' this council has not issued such a resolution. Hossein Nooshabadi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, referred to the 'decision' of the Supreme National Security Council on Tuesday, stating, 'If anyone is to express opinions contrary to national interests regarding a matter tied to our national security, it must certainly be prevented.' In recent years, there have also been reports regarding the National Security Council's directives on how to cover news about Iran's nuclear negotiations with the 5+1 group.
18 Members of Parliament Protest 'New Directive from the Ministry of Culture' Regarding Media Coverage
Eighteen Iranian MPs protested a directive from the Ministry of Culture that restricts media coverage of the Vienna nuclear agreement, claiming the Supreme National Security Council has not issued any such resolutions. This controversy highlights tensions between government directives and parliamentary oversight regarding media freedom in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Eighteen Iranian MPs protested a directive from the Ministry of Culture that restricts media coverage of the Vienna nuclear agreement, claiming the Supreme National Security Council has not issued any such resolutions.
- A directive from the Ministry of Culture was leaked, suggesting media should praise the Vienna nuclear agreement.
- Parliament members are demanding transparency and the publication of any resolutions by the Supreme National Security Council.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran's media is heavily regulated by the government, and nuclear negotiations with Western powers are a sensitive topic.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 90%