The Tehran Times, a newspaper widely recognized for its allegiance to the Ayatollah and its role as a mouthpiece for the Iranian regime, has recently responded to the severe bombings by Israel and the U.
S.'s dramatic Saturday night attack on Iran's nuclear sites.
The paper's reaction, which borders on parody, has drawn comparisons to the Babylon Bee, a satirical news outlet.
According to RedState, the Tehran Times' headline, which reads, "Irans swift response forced enemy to end hostilities, Supreme National Security Council says," is a source of amusement. The paper attributes the current ceasefire to Iran's "swift response," a claim that seems to be more of a propaganda tool than a factual account of events.
The Tehran Times further states, "Following the orders of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Iranian forces responded decisively and courageously to every act of hostility. The retaliatory operations included a powerful missile strike on the U.S. military base at Al-Udeid in Qatar and extensive attacks targeting positions across the occupied Palestinian territories."
However, the "powerful missile strike" on the U.S. military base at Al-Udeid in Qatar was reportedly ineffective. U.S. anti-missile systems intercepted most of the 14 missiles fired, while the rest either malfunctioned or missed their target. There were no reported casualties. Furthermore, it was revealed that Iran had forewarned Qatar about the attack, presumably knowing that the U.S. would be informed. As a result, most of the planes and personnel had already been relocated from the site.
The Tehran Times, on its "About" page, denies being a puppet for the regime, stating, "The newspapers general policy is based on the statement by Ayatollah Beheshti that 'The Tehran Times is not the newspaper of the government; rather it is a loud voice of the Islamic Revolution and the oppressed people of the world'." This claim raises questions about the millions of oppressed people within Iran itself.
The article continues its grandiose narrative, "The vigilance, unity, and steadfastness of the Iranian nation, combined with the operational readiness and combat capability of the Armed Forces, neutralized the enemys strategy and enabled a swift and forceful response. Over the course of twelve days of continuous engagement, Irans defense forces employed their full capacitydeveloped over years of innovation, dedication, and strategic planningto deal timely and proportional blows to any hostile action."
However, the reality seems to be quite different. In less than two weeks, Israel reportedly eliminated numerous Iranian scientists, IRGC commanders, and strategic buildings, while the U.S. destroyed Iran's Fordow nuclear enrichment site.
The Tehran Times' coverage of these events serves as a stark reminder of the realities of living under an authoritarian regime. It also raises questions about the role of journalism in such contexts.
As the debate continues, one can't help but wonder if outlets like The New York Times might be interested in recruiting some of the journalists from the Tehran Times, given their apparent knack for spinning narratives.
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