Iran is clamping down on its media ahead of possible sanctions by the United Nations Security Council.
According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Iran’s leadership is clamping down on dissemination of information and news on Iran’s referral to the Security Council.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) voted to refer Iran to the Security Council on February 4, protesting Iran’s lack of cooperation on the issue, but further action has been delayed until IAEA officials meet again on March 6.
Iran is under scrutiny over its nuclear program which the West suspects is being used to covertly manufacture nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, and that it has the right to possess nuclear technology.
The NCRI is part of Mujahidin Khalq (MEK), a pressure group which was established before the 1979 revolution and later aligned itself with Saddam Hussein. The MEK is on the United States list of foreign terror organizations.
Experts are urging that the reliability of their statements be addressed with caution as they will use all possible means to topple the Iranian regime.
The organization said Iranian authorities have issued new guidelines to censor media and news coverage.
The Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) has ordered the media to refrain from publishing news regarding Iran’s referral to the Security Council as this could imply that Iran has lost the case.
The SNSC Secretariat has warned that violating the ban is against the state’s interests. All members of the media have been warned in writing and in person, NCRI said, and warned that if these guidelines are violated their license will be revoked.
Guidelines include refraining from fomenting anxiety and fear among the public, refraining from implying that the regime has reached an impasse on this issue, and refraining from characterizing the issue as a diplomatic failure.