BBC Persian news network is partaking in the US-led campaign of economic terrorism targeting the Islamic Republic by painting a black picture of conditions inside the country and instigating Iranians to take their assets out of banks, Baeidinejad tweeted the remarks on Thursday.
The envoy cited a Wednesday “interview” by the BBC News’ Persian service with a US-based “political activist” as an example of the attempted anti-Iran sabotage by the channel.
The ambassador said during the “interview, which had been recorded and planned in advance,” BBC Persian’s presenter and the so-called activist “were, through painting a very mendacious picture of Iran’s economic situation, unequivocally called on Iranians to immediately take their assets out of Iranian banks.”
“And they [make so bold as to] call themselves journalists. No this is [not journalism, but] partnership in the economic terrorism project, against Iran” Baeidinejad protested.
Last month, UK-based anti-Iran television channels, namely BBC Persian, Manoto, and Saudi-funded Iran International, markedly cranked up their extensive anti-Iranian propaganda campaign by throwing their support behind foreign-backed rioters, who sought to take advantage of protests over a fuel price hike.
Tehran has sent an official protest note to Britain’s communications regulator Ofcom over the channels’ “malicious skewing” of Iran’s recent developments, and “their invitation of extensive violence against the country’s civil institutions.” Via the letter, Tehran has required that the media outlets be subjected to due process over their questionable performance.
On Wednesday, Baeidinejad noted that Ofcom had confirmed receiving the protest letter, and expressed its readiness to process it upon receiving the broadcast material containing the provocative content.
The Islamic Republic has also separately complained to the BBC over the Persian broadcaster’s conduct.
“Economic terrorism” is the name assigned by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to the United States’ frenetic efforts to bring Iran under economic pressure.
Leading the policy, the US left an international nuclear agreement with Iran last year, and returned the nuclear-related sanctions that had been lifted under the deal. Washington has also been trying to bend its allies into falling into line with the campaign.
The UK-based channels’ contribution to the US-led drive does not mark the first time they have been either trying to portray the Islamic Republic in a bad light or joining forces with anti-Iranian elements.
Last year, BBC Persian and Iran International interviewed a spokesman for al-Ahvaziyah terrorist group, which had staged a deadly attack during a military parade in southwestern Iran, killing 24 people, including children.
Back then, Tehran filed a relevant complaint with Ofcom.
Earlier, Baeedinejad had said that the Iranian nation would never forget how the vicious media outlets, including Persian BBC, Voice of America, Man-o-To and Iran International have been trying to introduce the organized rioters, killers and saboteurs as political critics.
Last month, Baeedinejad said that his country has officially lodged a complaint against adversary Persian-language TV channels based in the United Kingdom for biased distorting of the recent events following Tehran’s decision to raise gas price in the country.
