Ali Jannati, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, stated on May 9 that controlling media in Iran is not feasible either technically or geographically, nor can domestic legal requirements prevent it. Speaking at the 18th specialized gathering of social deputies of the police force, he noted, "Given the programs that the West is implementing, satellites are being placed in a 1000-kilometer orbit instead of the 36,000-kilometer orbit, allowing anyone with a smartphone to easily access 2,000 satellite channels, and we must start thinking about how to deal with this phenomenon now." According to Fars News Agency, he added, "At that time, they won't have dishes that we can take down and confront them with." Over the past years, the Iranian police have collected satellite receivers from citizens' homes and private spaces. According to the Minister of Culture, there are currently nearly "9,000 television channels and transnational satellite networks," with "more than half of them being accessible within the country." In another part of his speech, he mentioned, "Research results have shown that the use of networks is on the rise; the important thing is that we can take control of them and utilize them." Recent research published in a military journal indicates that the opposition's use of information and communication technology has played a significant role in changing public opinion in Iran and has created limitations for the government in terms of countering this. Jannati also stated that the virtual space is uncontrollable. He emphasized that the Iranian government must take control of the scene and be a producer in its own right. Officials from Hassan Rouhani's government have made similar statements in the past. For instance, Rouhani himself stated last June that "the tools of radio and television are gradually being set aside, and mobile phones and the internet are taking their place" and "we cannot distance ourselves from the most modern technological tools and cannot lag behind the world in speed..." However, even the idea of expanding internet bandwidth in Iran has faced backlash from the predominantly principlist parliament, resulting in a yellow card for the Minister of Communications.
Jannati: Controlling Media is Neither Technically Nor Geographically Possible
Ali Jannati, Iran's Minister of Culture, expressed that controlling media is impossible due to technological and geographical factors. He highlighted the increasing accessibility of satellite channels and the need for the government to adapt to modern communication technologies. This statement reflects ongoing challenges the Iranian government faces in managing information flow and public opinion.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Ali Jannati stated that controlling media in Iran is impossible due to technological advancements and the proliferation of satellite channels. He emphasized the need for the government to adapt to these changes and produce its own content.
- Jannati noted that there are nearly 9,000 television channels accessible in Iran, with over half being transnational.
- He highlighted the increasing use of the internet and communication technologies by the opposition to influence public opinion.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a history of strict media control, but advancements in technology have made it increasingly difficult for the government to manage information flow.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%