Islamic Republic of Iran News Network
An Iranian television news channel operated by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The Islamic Republic of Iran News Network, commonly known as IRINN, is a television news service operated by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Iran’s state broadcasting organization. The network is headquartered at IRIB’s Jame Jam Park complex in Tehran and is primarily a Persian-language service. Its programming is centered on political, governmental, domestic, regional, and international news, supplemented by coverage of sport, science, medicine, and other public-interest subjects. IRINN functions as one of IRIB’s principal news outlets. Its role extends beyond conventional rolling news: it carries scheduled bulletins, interviews, political discussion, live reports, official announcements, and special coverage of major national and international events. As a state broadcaster, its editorial output is closely associated with the Iranian government’s official perspective, particularly on domestic politics, foreign policy, security affairs, and regional conflicts. The channel is therefore both a news source for Iranian viewers and an important instrument of official public communication. In the early period of its operation, the network also transmitted some programming in English and Arabic, although Persian became its main broadcast language. IRINN has continued to reach audiences through television and internet-based distribution, including live-streaming arrangements connected with IRIB’s digital ecosystem. In August 2022, IRIB introduced a second IRINN channel intended to provide more extensive live coverage of news events in Iran and abroad. The additional channel expanded the network’s capacity to carry breaking-news footage and simultaneous event coverage rather than relying only on the principal service’s scheduled output. The network has been involved in several politically significant incidents. In June 2021, the United States Department of Justice seized dozens of Iranian-linked websites that it described as participating in disinformation activity. IRINN characterized the action as part of a broader U.S. effort against media associated with Iran and the so-called Axis of Resistance. In October 2022, during nationwide protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, the channel’s broadcast was hacked by the group Edalat-e Ali. The interruption displayed material criticizing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and highlighting women affected by Iran’s compulsory-hijab policies. The incident also affected Telewebion, an Iranian online video platform, which reportedly became unavailable after the attack. On 16 June 2025, IRINN’s studio complex in Tehran was struck during live broadcasting amid the Twelve-Day War. A loud explosion interrupted an on-air presentation by journalist Sahar Emami. The incident killed IRINN editor-in-chief Nima Rajabpour and IRIB secretary Masoumeh Azimi, according to the supplied reference material. Israel later acknowledged responsibility and said it had targeted an Iranian military communications facility, while Israeli officials characterized IRINN as a propaganda outlet. International press-freedom and journalist organizations, including the International Federation of Journalists and the Committee to Protect Journalists, condemned the strike and emphasized the civilian status of journalists under international humanitarian law. IRINN remains an active Iranian news brand within the IRIB structure. Its identity is defined by continuous news coverage, a predominantly Persian-language service, extensive political reporting, and a strong connection to Iran’s state broadcasting and official-information system.
History
The Islamic Republic of Iran News Network, or IRINN, is a Persian-led Iranian television news service belonging to Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. It is based at the Jame Jam Park broadcasting complex in Tehran. The channel was created as part of IRIB’s news-service structure and became one of the organization’s most visible outlets for continuous reporting and official information. The precise founding year is not established in the supplied reference material. IRINN’s editorial remit is broad but politically oriented. Its principal output consists of domestic political reporting, government news, foreign affairs, security coverage, regional developments, and international events. The schedule also includes sports, scientific, and medical reporting. Although Persian is the main language, the network broadcast some English- and Arabic-language programming during its early years, reflecting an attempt to communicate with audiences beyond Iran’s Persian-speaking domestic audience. The network’s importance derives from its position inside IRIB. Unlike an independent commercial news channel, IRINN operates within Iran’s state broadcasting system and presents news through an official institutional framework. Its broadcasts commonly combine scheduled bulletins with interviews, studio discussions, official statements, field reports, and live event coverage. This makes the channel a central vehicle for the Iranian state’s presentation of political events and national crises. IRINN’s distribution later expanded through internet-based services and live-streaming platforms. In August 2022, IRIB launched a second channel associated with the IRINN network. The second service was designed to provide live coverage of news events in Iran and elsewhere, allowing IRIB to carry simultaneous or extended coverage when major developments required more airtime than the main channel could provide. The network has repeatedly appeared in disputes concerning Iranian state media and information control. On 22 June 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice seized 33 Iranian-linked websites, describing them as platforms used to spread disinformation. IRINN criticized the measure and presented it as part of a broader American campaign against news websites connected with Iran and the Axis of Resistance. The episode illustrated the international political conflict surrounding Iranian broadcasters and online media distribution. On 10 October 2022, during the protests that followed the death of Mahsa Amini, Edalat-e Ali hacked the IRINN broadcast. The attackers inserted a message and images criticizing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Iran’s treatment of women accused of violating compulsory-hijab rules. The incident was especially notable because it disrupted a prominent state-news bulletin in real time. The related online video service Telewebion also reportedly became unavailable after the hacking episode. The most serious event in the supplied history occurred on 16 June 2025, during the Twelve-Day War. An Israeli missile struck the IRINN studio complex in Tehran while presenter Sahar Emami was broadcasting live. The attack caused the deaths of editor-in-chief Nima Rajabpour and IRIB secretary Masoumeh Azimi. Israel confirmed responsibility and argued that the target was a secret Iranian military communications center; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz also described IRINN as a propaganda outlet. The International Federation of Journalists and the Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the strike, stressing that journalists are civilians under international law and that attacks on them may constitute war crimes. Despite these disruptions and controversies, IRINN remains an active component of IRIB’s television and digital news system. Its continuing role is that of a high-visibility Iranian broadcaster combining rolling news, political communication, live event reporting, and specialized coverage for domestic and international audiences.
- 2025
IRINN studio hit during live broadcast
[1]An Israeli strike hit the Tehran studio complex, killing editor-in-chief Nima Rajabpour and IRIB secretary Masoumeh Azimi.
- 2022
Launch of a second IRINN channel
[1]IRIB launched a second channel for the IRINN network to provide expanded live coverage of news events in Iran and around the world.
- 2022
Broadcast interruption during Iran protests
[1]Edalat-e Ali hacked an IRINN bulletin during the protests following Mahsa Amini’s death, inserting criticism of Iran’s leadership and compulsory-hijab policies.
- 2021
U.S. seizure of Iranian-linked websites
[1]The U.S. Department of Justice seized 33 Iranian-linked websites, while IRINN criticized the move as part of a wider campaign against Iranian-affiliated media.
Products and positioning
A state-affiliated Iranian news broadcaster positioned as a continuous source of domestic, political, regional, and international news, with programming that reflects the official editorial perspective of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.
Television news channel
IRINN primary channel
The principal IRINN service provides predominantly Persian-language news programming, with emphasis on political, governmental, domestic, regional, and international affairs. Its schedule also includes sports, science, and medical coverage, alongside interviews, discussion programs, official statements, and special reports.
Live news television channel · 2022
IRINN second channel
Introduced in August 2022, the second IRINN channel was designed to carry live coverage of news events in Iran and internationally. It increases the network’s ability to provide extended or simultaneous coverage during breaking news and major national or global events.
Digital news distribution
IRINN online live streaming
IRINN distributes news programming and live broadcasts through internet-based channels connected with IRIB’s digital ecosystem. Online delivery extends the television network’s reach to viewers seeking live news outside conventional broadcast schedules.
Controversies
2025
Strike on the IRINN studio complex
An Israeli strike hit the IRINN studio during a live broadcast and killed two IRIB staff members. Israel described the target as a military communications facility, while journalist-protection organizations condemned the attack and disputed the treatment of the broadcaster’s staff as legitimate targets.
2022
Edalat-e Ali broadcast hack
During the 2022 Iran protests, the hacktivist group Edalat-e Ali interrupted an IRINN news bulletin and displayed material attacking Iran’s leadership and highlighting women affected by compulsory-hijab enforcement, including Mahsa Amini.
Brand decisions
2022
Expansion into a second live-news channelStrategyBackground
IRIB sought to provide more continuous live coverage of important events in Iran and internationally.
Action taken
A second channel was launched under the IRINN network in August 2022 for live news-event broadcasting.
Aftermath
The move expanded IRINN’s capacity to carry breaking-news coverage and major events across more than one service.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/islamic-republic-of-iran-news-network · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled