The head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) announced the launch of Press TV Turkey, marking a significant milestone in connecting with Turkish-speaking audiences, Mehr News reported on Tuesday.
Peyman Jebeli, the IRIB director, expressed optimism about the channel’s success, emphasizing its potential to strengthen its presence in the Turkish-speaking media landscape. He highlighted the importance of advancements in international broadcasting and noted the strategic measures taken by IRIB’s Overseas Broadcasting Division, such as the launch of Hispan TV in Brazil to cater to Portuguese-speaking viewers.
“In today’s global media landscape, where media influence rivals military power, our responsibilities have grown exponentially,” Jebeli said. “We must strategically expand our global reach to amplify our voice on the world stage.”
The new Turkish-language channel adds to Press TV’s existing portfolio, which includes programming in English, Arabic, and Spanish. The move comes in response to increasing regional media competition, including Turkey’s state broadcaster TRT’s recent launch of a Persian-language channel.
Last October, TRT General Director Mehmet Zahid Sobaci stirred controversy with remarks perceived as critical of Iran while announcing TRT’s plans to expand into 41 foreign languages, including Persian. His statement, “We are in a state of confusion and discomfort for Iran. We must do this,” raised concerns among the Iranian public and officials.
In response, Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Abbas Salehi engaged Turkish officials to address the matter. He urged caution against divisive rhetoric, emphasizing the importance of unity among Muslim nations in the face of regional tensions and external threats.
Salehi welcomed Turkey’s efforts to strengthen cultural ties, highlighting Iran’s commitment to fostering neighborly relations. “Iran’s fundamental foreign policy principle is to strengthen ties with its neighbors, and Turkey holds a significant position in this framework,” he said. He also underscored the opportunities presented by the designated Year of Iranian-Turkish Culture to deepen collaboration.
Salehi called for leveraging shared cultural resources to build stronger ties and noted recent progress in media collaboration, expressing Iran’s readiness to enhance these efforts in alignment with the interests of both nations.
Fahrettin Altun, Turkey’s Director of Communications, reaffirmed Turkey’s dedication to strengthening its political and cultural ties with Iran. He underscored the importance of fostering dialogue and mutual understanding between the two nations. Referring to a recent meeting between the two presidents, Altun highlighted their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
Altun expressed regret over Sobaci’s remarks, clarifying that they did not reflect the views of Turkey’s president or government. “Turkey remains committed to friendship and cooperation with Iran, and challenges can be resolved through constructive dialogue,” he said.
The discussions concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to closer collaboration while ensuring that media narratives foster unity and respect public sentiment.
