Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2021
Disputed reporting on the attempted assassination of Mustafa al-Kadhimi
IRNA was criticized for reporting that the November 2021 drone attack on Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi was a false-flag operation by the United States. The claim was cited as an example of reporting whose accuracy and evidentiary basis were disputed.
Criticism over disputed COVID-19 and regional-conflict claims
Reference material describes criticism of IRNA reports concerning COVID-19, Israel, Gaza-related imagery, Syria, and alleged foreign involvement in unrest in Iran. Some examples involved images or claims that critics said were misleading or unsupported.
Use of a satirical source questioned
IRNA's accuracy was further questioned after it cited The Onion, a satirical news publication, as a source. The episode was used by critics to challenge the agency's editorial verification practices.