06/17/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/17/2025 12:19
The tension between Israel and Iran has escalated since Tel Aviv launched its surprise offensive on multiple Iranian targets on 13 June. Waves of missiles have struck cities in both countries, resulting in hundreds of civilian deaths and injuries, including the killing of at least four Iranian media workers to date and damage to several newsrooms, such as a targeted attack on Iran's State broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is mourning the death of at least four journalists and media workers, as it continues to monitor the unfolding situation. The IFJ reminds all parties that, under international law, journalists are civilians and deliberate attacks against them constitute war crimes.
Smoke billows from an explosion in Tehran on 16 June. Iran's State broadcaster was briefly knocked off air by an Israeli strike and explosions rang out across Tehran on the fourth day of an escalating air war. Credit: AFP.
Since Israel launchedits unprecedented military operation against Iran on 13 June, at least four journalists and media workers have lost their lives.
On 13 June, Fereshteh Bagheri, a reporter for the Defa Press news agency and the daughter of Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces, was killedalongside her father in an Israeli strike that targeted the family home in Tehran.
On 15 June, freelance cartoonist Saleh Bairami, who worked for Andishe Pooya magazine and several other media, was killedwhile on the street in an Israeli air strike that hit Tehran, according to local media.
On 16 June, the Israeli military struck the headquarters of Iran's State broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), in a targeted attackin Tehran. At least two media workers, Nima Rajabpour, a news editor for Iran's State TV news channel Khabar, and Masoumeh Azimi, secretariat staffer at the IRIB, were killedas a result of Israeli air strikes. The bombing came shortly after the Israeli military issuedan evacuation warning for the district in Tehran, where the offices of Iran's State broadcaster are located. Minutes before the attack, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said"the Iranian propaganda and incitement mouthpiece" is about "to disappear".
Damaged media facilities
On 15 June, the newsrooms of Sazandegi newspaper, a daily reformist newspaper based in Tehran, and Ensaf News, a news station with its headquarters in the Iranian capital, were damagedas a result of Israeli strikes that hit nearby buildings. Fortunately, no journalists were injured in any of the attacks.
On 16 June, the headquarters of Iran's State broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) were deliberately targetedin a series of air strikes, killing at least two IRIB media professionals, Nima Rajabpour and Masoumeh Azimi.
In a statement issued on 16 June, the Tehran Province Journalists' Association (TPJA) pledged that "journalists will be able to carry out their professional duties safely during these turbulent and dangerous times, despite ongoing difficulties and restrictions".
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "Media professionals in areas of armed conflict must be treated and protected as civilians and allowed to perform their work without interference. The IFJ urges warring parties to refrain from attacking journalists and media facilities and calls on media organisations and employers to do their utmost to ensure the safety of their employees, such as allowing them to work from home if newsrooms are located close to potential targets. No story is worth the life of a journalist."
For more information, please contact IFJ on +32 2 235 22 16
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