After a knife attack on an Iranian journalist in London, the Iranian government has now spoken out. Editors of the banned broadcaster Iran International are said to be fueling sentiment against the Islamic Republic. An attack planned by the state is unfounded.
The BBC had previously reported on threats from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) against journalists and their families. The Revolutionary Guards are Iran’s elite armed forces and are also active abroad.
As reported, journalist Puria Serati of the exiled medium was attacked with a stabbing weapon in the London district of Wimbledon on Friday afternoon. He suffered a non-life-threatening injury to his leg. The motive was initially unclear. Recently, however, there have been increasing threats against Persian-language journalists. The London police’s anti-terrorism unit was therefore instructed to investigate, the report said.
Kidnapping and assassination plans against government opponents
Police say there have been repeated foiled kidnapping or even assassination plans against people in Britain who are opponents of the Iranian government since 2022. The broadcaster Iran International had already moved its headquarters from London to Washington in the spring of 2023 after threats.
In Iran, the medium is classified as a terrorist organization. In the past, the government accused the broadcaster of trying to spread negative news about the Islamic Republic on behalf of Saudi Arabia.
The Guardian newspaper reported in 2018 that Iran International is financed by an offshore entity and a company whose director is a Saudi businessman with close ties to the Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman. The media company rejected the report, citing its independent and impartial journalism.
Source: Krone
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