CNN airs Iranian regime's media messaging uninterrupted, White House smacks network down

WASHINGTON,DC: CNN, on Thursday, March 12, aired several minutes of footage from Iranian state television during its programming, broadcasting a translated address attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran’s late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The segment featured an Iranian news anchor delivering a translation of remarks said to be part of Mojtaba Khamenei’s first public address following recent developments in Iran’s leadership.

The CNN broadcast showed full 4 minutes of the translator speaking over the message directed at the Iranian public and regional leaders.

CNN airs Iranian state TV message, White House fires back

According to the translated narration aired in the segment, the anchor read: “Mojtaba Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, in their first public speech addressing the great nation of Iran and the brave fighters of Iran, the fatalities, those who were injured, and also they addressed the leaders of some neighboring countries.”

The translation continued by referencing the challenges associated with succeeding earlier Iranian revolutionary leaders.

“The leader Mojtaba Khamenei said that it has been very difficult to be the successor of Khomeini and Khameinei.”

The segment aired for several minutes without interruption as the anchor continued reading the translated speech.

The broadcast drew a strong reaction from the White House, which shared a clip of the segment on social media platform X and criticized the network for airing what it described as a message from a "psychotic and m*rderous regime".

In its post, the White House accused CNN of giving uninterrupted airtime to a government broadcaster from Iran.

“Fake News CNN just aired four straight minutes of uninterrupted Iranian state TV, run by the same psychotic and murderous regime that has prided itself on brutally slaughtering Americans for 47 years”, White House wrote in the caption.

Social media backlash follows broadcast

The clip also generated criticism from some commentators and users on X after the White House post amplified attention to the segment.

One Iranian commentator wrote “We Iranians call it Ayatollah CNN”.

Another post criticized the broadcast, stating “Ayatollah CNN should be ashamed of itself. Stay vigilant, lets make sure we all add the community notes and keep them honest.”

A separate user accused the network of effectively amplifying Iranian messaging. 

“CNN really spent four minutes airing uninterrupted Iranian state TV like it’s a primetime sitcom. Imagine being the ‘Most Trusted Name in News’ and essentially becoming the English-language arm of the Islamic Republic.”

Another commenter identifying as Iranian wrote “Shameful to air the propaganda. We Iranians are grateful for the rescue operation. God Bless America.”

CNN has not publicly commented on the criticism as the clip continued circulating widely online.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.