5 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
IRGC troops deployed at Iran's state broadcaster HQ after Israel's missile strikes
Tehran, June 18 (UNI) Iran's paramilitary force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has been deployed at the IRIB headquarters to ensure its security, following Israel's surprising attack on the state media broadcaster's headquarters in Tehran, reports Iran International.
Access to the IRIB complex, located in northern Tehran's Jam-e-Jam area, is now tightly restricted, with only cleared personnel allowed entrance.
Witnesses have reported heightened security checks and a significant armed presence. The compound has effectively turned into a restricted zone, one staff member said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The staff member told Iran International that some senior editorial staff and reporters left the building hours before the strike after receiving warning signals. Others, citing safety concerns, have refused to return.
'There is deep anxiety among middle managers and staff — not only about their security but also their livelihoods,' said the staff member.
The Israeli strikes on Iran's propaganda machinery on Monday during a live broadcast caused technical disruptions inside the broadcaster, with dust and smoke engulfing the studio of the live broadcast, with videos showing fire coming from the glass building.
The extent of physical damage remains unclear, but programming is said to have been badly affected and internal operations significantly curtailed.
Iranian officials condemned the attack, calling it a 'crime' and a violation of international law.
IRIB President Peyman Jebelli confirmed that the IRINN studio (IRIB's 24-hour news network) had been 'destroyed', but vowed that programming would gradually resume.
'Despite the damage, our core broadcasts — including the 20:30 news bulletin — will return,' Jebelli said in remarks broadcast on Wednesday.
He himself was reportedly present at the time of the attack but was unharmed.
While official casualty figures have not been confirmed, local media reported the deaths of three people, including senior news editor Nima Rajabpour and administrative staff member Masoumeh Azimi.
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