Iranian President’s Interview Disseminates Misinformation, Leveraging Western Platform for Propaganda Victory
In a recent interview with American conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian propagated a series of misleading and unfounded claims, effectively utilizing a Western platform to disseminate Iranian propaganda. The interview, published on Carlson’s website and subsequently amplified by major Iranian state media outlets, garnered significant viewership on YouTube and TikTok within a short span, further extending its reach and impact. This strategic maneuver allowed the Iranian regime to bypass its own heavily controlled domestic media and gain a semblance of Western validation, bolstering their narrative on a global scale. NewsGuard, a renowned organization specializing in information integrity, meticulously analyzed the interview, exposing several key falsehoods presented by President Pezeshkian.
One of the most glaring inaccuracies propagated by Pezeshkian was the denial of any existing fatwa (religious edict) against former US President Donald Trump. This assertion directly contradicts documented evidence revealing that two prominent Ayatollahs, Naser Makarem Shirazi and Hossein Nouri Hamedani, issued separate fatwas in 2025, labeling Trump as “Moharebeh,” or “enemy of God.” This designation carries the weight of a death sentence within the Iranian legal and religious framework. By denying the existence of such a fatwa, Pezeshkian attempted to downplay the severity of the regime’s stance towards Trump and the United States in general. This deliberate misrepresentation serves to create a misleading image of Iran’s intentions and policies on the international stage.
Another contentious point raised in the interview involved the interpretation of the slogan “Death to America.” Pezeshkian attempted to reframe this frequently chanted phrase as a condemnation of US foreign policies, rather than a direct call for violence against American citizens or officials. This interpretation, however, clashes with numerous official pronouncements by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who explicitly stated in 2019 that the slogan targets specific individuals within the US government, including Trump, Bolton, and Pompeo. Pezeshkian’s attempt to sanitize the slogan ignores the historical context and the threatening rhetoric consistently employed by the Iranian leadership.
Beyond Pezeshkian’s misleading statements, the interview also featured several other unverified claims by Carlson himself, further muddying the waters and contributing to the spread of misinformation. These claims included assertions about Iran’s purported full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a denial of Tehran’s involvement in any killings of US citizens, and the unfounded allegation that the United States played a role in the creation of the Islamic State (IS). These unsubstantiated assertions, presented without supporting evidence, serve to promote a distorted narrative that aligns with the Iranian regime’s interests.
Fatima Abo Alasrar, an Iran expert quoted by NewsGuard, characterized Pezeshkian’s appearance in Western media as a significant propaganda victory for the regime. She argued that this platform provided a level of validation that Iranian state-controlled media could never achieve on its own. By disseminating its messaging through a seemingly neutral Western outlet, Iran successfully circumvented the skepticism often associated with its own propaganda channels. This tactic allowed the regime to reach a wider audience and present its narrative in a more palatable and persuasive manner. The interview’s widespread dissemination on social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok further amplified its impact, exposing a vast audience to the regime’s carefully crafted message.
The amplification of the interview by Russian and Chinese state media further underscores the geopolitical implications of this propaganda effort. By echoing and reinforcing the narrative presented by Pezeshkian and Carlson, these state-controlled media outlets contribute to the dissemination of a worldview that portrays the United States and Israel as the primary sources of global instability. This coordinated effort serves to undermine trust in Western institutions and promote an alternative narrative that aligns with the interests of these nations. The strategic use of misinformation and propaganda in the international arena highlights the growing challenge of discerning truth from falsehood in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. The incident underscores the importance of critical media literacy and the need for independent fact-checking organizations like NewsGuard to play a vital role in exposing misinformation and holding those responsible accountable.
