The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) is the official news outlet of the Iranian government and remains one of the most influential state-controlled media organizations in the country. Originally known as Pars News Agency, IRNA has evolved into a multilingual platform that produces news content in ten languages, aiming to shape both domestic and international perceptions of Iran’s policies. Alongside its news wire, IRNA also publishes several print titles, the most prominent of which is Iran—widely recognized as the regime’s official newspaper.
Media assets
News agency: IRNA
Print: Iran, Iran Daily, Alvefagh, Irane Varzeshi, Irane Sepid
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
IRNA operates under the direct jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, which appoints the agency’s leadership. The current Managing Director, Ali Naderi, was appointed in October 2021 during a restructuring of the country’s state media architecture. A staunch ultraconservative and loyalist to Iran’s ruling elite, Naderi publicly stated upon assuming the role that IRNA would serve as a news agency of the political system—a phrase that, in the Iranian context, unequivocally refers to the ideological and political directives of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Under Naderi’s leadership, IRNA has further entrenched its role as a governmental megaphone, aligning its editorial stance with hardline policies and the broader objectives of the Islamic Republic’s leadership. There is no pluralism in editorial appointments, and governance remains opaque, with no public accountability mechanisms in place.
Source of funding and budget
IRNA is funded through a combination of state allocations and limited commercial income, including advertising and content syndication. However, the agency does not disclose its financial reports or operating budgets. According to local media analysts and insiders consulted in April 2024, over 80% of IRNA’s annual budget is sourced directly from the government. This substantial financial dependence ensures the agency’s alignment with state priorities and limits any operational independence.
In 2025, while the precise figures for IRNA’s budget have not been made public, Iran’s national budget showed a marked increase in allocations for state-run propaganda and ideological institutions. This trend—also seen in the significant budget expansion for IRIB and affiliated bodies—suggests that IRNA’s funding has likely followed a similar upward trajectory. Despite this, civil society experts have criticized the Ministry of Planning and Budget for its refusal to publish the full financial tables for the current fiscal year, thus shielding agencies like IRNA from fiscal scrutiny.
Editorial independence
IRNA functions as the Iranian government’s primary instrument for shaping public discourse and international messaging. It consistently promotes the regime’s political narratives, economic policies, and foreign policy positions while marginalizing dissenting voices. The agency’s coverage is often indistinguishable from state communiqués, with its news products frequently echoing official speeches, military statements, and ideological declarations without independent analysis or counterpoint.
While IRNA occasionally covers social and economic issues, these are invariably framed to reinforce state legitimacy or to deflect criticism onto external actors such as Western governments or regional adversaries. Editorial independence is virtually non-existent. Indeed, IRNA has been routinely characterized by both domestic critics and international media watchdogs as a propaganda vehicle of the Islamic Republic.
To date, no domestic statute, regulatory safeguard, or third-party oversight body has been established to monitor or validate the editorial integrity of IRNA or its affiliated publications. The agency remains fully embedded in the state apparatus, lacking both transparency and autonomy.
July 2025