IRGC warns Saudi Arabia over Iran protest coverage

The head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has issued a warning to Saudi Arabia about the country’s Persian-language media coverage of protests in Iran. 

IRGC commander Hossein Salami said, “I have a recommendation to Saudi Arabia, which is trying to trick our youth with the support of some media outlets. I am warning the Saudi regime: Be careful of your behavior and control these outlets or the smoke will blow in your face.” He continued, “We give you the final word because you are interfering in our internal affairs with these media. We told you, be careful.”

Iran has been rocked by protests since the mid-September death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died while in custody of the so-called morality police.

While Salami did not name the media outlets he was talking about, it's clear one of his intended targets was Iran International, a UK-based Persian-language outlet with reported ties to Saudi Arabia. Launched in 2017, Iran International has been controversial but successful. With offers of higher salaries, it has lured multiple journalists away from more established outlets. Its news coverage is known for being more sensational and its journalists more opinionated on social media. However, in times of protests, that subjectivity tends to draw more viewers than the rigid guidelines that outlets like BBC Persian must adhere to.