Censorship Scissors Target Qalibaf as Vahidi Protects Iran's TV from Presidential Wrath

Amid intensifying internal political confrontation, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Ahmad Vahidi entered the fray in the heated power struggle between Tehran's factions, delivering a message of praise and solidarity to Paiman Javadi, head of the official Radio and Television Organization.

Vahidi commended what he described as the "valuable effort and effective performance" of the organization during its confrontation with the United States, affirming its pivotal role in strengthening the regime's "media front," according to a report published by the website "Iran International."

This direct support from military leadership comes amid a broader power struggle over influence between senior IRGC leaders and President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Undermining prospects for de-escalation

The opposition website revealed in April, citing sources close to the presidency, that Pezeshkian accused Vahidi and other military leaders of unilateral actions during the war, undermining chances for a ceasefire and pushing the country toward an economic catastrophe.

Pezeshkian’s criticism of the broadcaster did not stop there; in May, he stated that the official media presented a distorted image of reality and required comprehensive reform.

Tensions escalated in July after Pezeshkian’s office accused the television network of withholding part of a presidential interview in which he discussed secret instructions issued by the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for negotiations with Washington—without the organization providing any public explanation for blocking these remarks.

Censorship Scissors Target Qalibaf

The disputes were not limited to the presidency; Iran’s parliament accused the broadcaster of regulatory overreach following the editing and partial broadcast of a recorded interview with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf in July.

The removed segments (approximately 20 minutes) included sensitive topics such as upcoming inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, frozen Iranian assets, a memorandum of understanding concerning a $300 billion reconstruction credit, and a response to Donald Trump.

Despite the broadcaster’s justification that the interview was divided into two parts, parliament emphasized it received no prior notice, prompting Qalibaf to renew his attack this week, accusing the Radio and Television Organization of failing to manage the "information war" and suffering from "severe structural and methodological shortcomings."