Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has, in a decree, appointed Mohammad Sarafraz as the new president of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Press TV reported.
Before assuming the top job, Sarafraz was the head of the IRIB’s World Service for two decades during which several foreign-language satellite channels, including Press TV, Al-Alam and Hispan TV were launched.
The English-language Press TV and Arabic-language Al-Alam channels as well as Hispan TV, which airs programs in Spanish, are alternative media outlets which have played a key role in shedding light on the dark side of international developments which are not usually covered by mainstream Western media.
IFilm was another satellite channel which went on air during Sarafraz’s tenure as the head of the IRIB’s World Service. It broadcasts Iranian soap operas, TV series and feature films dubbed into both English and Arabic.
The presidency of the IRIB was previously held by Ezzatollah Zarghami.
In his decree, the Leader expressed gratitude to Zarghami for his tireless and sincere efforts during his tenure as the IRIB president.
At this juncture, Ayatollah Khamenei underlined, the state radio and TV shoulders a heavy responsibility, and that is to safeguard and promote the “cultural independence and identity” of the Islamic Revolution of Iran.
The IRIB serves as the driving force behind national development and progress, and has a duty to mobilize the nation and contribute to executive management work in a bid to help achieve predetermined goals and execute the macropolicies of the system, the Leader underscored.
Ayatollah Khamenei further said the IRIB is duty-bound to promote religion, morality and the Islamic lifestyle as well as to raise awareness among people from all walks of life.