IRIB Official: Iran To Take Legal Measures Against Spain's Hispasat

Tehran, Dec 22, IRNA – World service chief of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) Mohammad Sarafraz said that Iran will take necessary legal measures against another blow to the freedom of speech (this time) by Spain’s satellite provider Hispasat. Sarafraz, also Press TV and Hispan TV CEO, made the remarks after another blow to the freedom of speech by Spain’s satellite provider Hispasat in taking off the air, Press TV and Hispan TV on Friday. He said such moves expose the real face of Western governments, adding, “They are trying to silence Iranian media through naive struggles.” Press TV's CEO also likened the campaign by Western governments against the Iranian media to inquisition in medieval times. Sarafraz said that simultaneous approval of imposing sanctions on Iranian media and allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to Israel’s missile arsenal show the equal significance of placing limits on media freedom and military support for the Zionists by Washington. He described the increasing pressure against the Iranian media channels as part of the US-backed Zionist lobbies’ campaign against Iran, particularly after the recent defeat of the Israeli regime during the eight-day war on the Gaza Strip. Sarafraz emphasized that such pressures cannot stop the Iranian channels from disseminating news around the world. Hispasat is partly owned by Eutelsat, whose French-Israeli CEO is blamed for the recent wave of attacks on Iranian media in Europe. Press TV officials were quoted as saying that they contacted Hispasat and the EU foreign policy chief's office to get a reaction, but to no avail./end