{"id":263492,"date":"2022-09-07T18:09:15","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T16:09:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=263492"},"modified":"2023-02-06T18:17:05","modified_gmt":"2023-02-06T17:17:05","slug":"irans-state-media-irib-devours-dirty-money-and-airs-propaganda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/society\/irans-state-media-irib-devours-dirty-money-and-airs-propaganda\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran\u2019s State Media (IRIB) Devours Dirty Money and Airs Propaganda\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"iran-irib-meeting-room\"
Inside the IRIB conference room<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now and then, a state-affiliated corruption case comes into the spotlight in Iran. After the recent astronomical embezzlement in the Mobarakeh Steel Company<\/a>, Iran’s state media is now reporting billions of dollars looted by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). <\/span><\/p>\n

The IRIB receives a huge budget, but because it is under the supervision of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei it is exempt from paying taxes. Yet, amid the regime\u2019s recent infightings, it was revealed that this organization earns a massive amount of money through commercials, and these additional earnings have never been audited.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to <\/span>the state-run Jahan-e Sanat<\/span><\/a>, \u201cThe IRIB receives roughly 50 quadrillion rials,\u201d or $166 million based on the current exchange rate at the free market.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYet, the IRIB\u2019s estimated income from soccer advertisements is between 160 and 310 quadrillion rials. In other words, the IRIB\u2019s total income from commercials is expected to be at least 500 to 600 quadrillion rials per year, only from the advertisements of the Esteghlal and Persepolis derbies,\u201d the paper added.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, the IRIB earns around $1.6 billion a year.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe IRIB\u2019s unprecedented budget increase in 2021 made headlines as it was three times bigger than Tehran University\u2019s budget and equal to the budget of several provinces. Shortly afterward, it became clear that this organization was not satisfied with this budget; thus, it received an additional 150 million euros from the National Development Fund<\/a>,\u201d Jahan-e Sanat reported.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The IRIB, with 48,000 employees across Iran, is tasked with spreading the regime\u2019s propaganda and hate speech. Recently, the IRIB has aired dozens of political prisoners\u2019 forced confessions obtained under torture. Additionally, the IRIB uses its technical facilities<\/span>\u00a0to jam foreign and independent broadcast signals, further undermining the freedom of speech in Iran.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In February 2013, the U.S. Department of the Treasury\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned IRIB<\/a> for \u201crestricting or denying the free flow of information to or from the Iranian people\u201d and \u201ccensoring multiple media outlets and airing forced confessions from political detainees.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, it is safe to say IRIB has been making headlines rather than broadcasting news. Like other state-affiliated organizations, the IRIB is corrupt to the core, and its embezzlements are not limited to those recently revealed by Jahan-e Sanat.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

U.S. Sanctions Two Financial Institutions Under Khamenei\u2019s Control Involved in Terrorism and Harming Iranians https:\/\/t.co\/rbbRzJzpzy<\/a> It's time to sanction #IRIB<\/a> (State television & radio) @StateDept<\/a> #NoImpunity4Mullahs<\/a><\/p>\n

— Ali Safavi (@amsafavi) January 16, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n