Iran Media Coverage of Detained UK Naval Personnel 0430 Gmt 31 Mar 07

Mar 31, 03:58 AM

Current Headlines: Iranian media and news agencies were monitored from 1400 gmt on 30 March to 0430 gmt on 31 March for coverage of the detained British marines in the Persian Gulf. The news was given high priority in the bulletins. Several news items in every bulletin dealt with the issue.

TV

The first channel of the Iranian TV (IRTV1) during its 1530 gmt bulletin repeated broadcasting the "interview" with mechanical operator Nathan Thomas Summers. (Processed as: TV shows UK marine Summers admitting "trespassing" into Iranian waters) The news item on Friday prayer sermons also highlighted parts of the sermon which accused the British marines violating Iranian territorial waters. Tehran Friday prayer sermons was broadcast following the bulletin. Hojjat ol-Eslam Ahmad Khatami (who is he?) delivered the sermons, where he blamed "British approach" for the delay in the release of Faye Turney. (Processed as: Iran Friday imam blames British approach for delay in release of female marine)

The same TV channel, during its main 1730 gmt bulletin ran the "interview" with Summers as the lead story. The six first items of the bulletin were related to the British sailors. The commentary of the bulletin was also on the Security Council reaction to the British proposed resolution on the release of the British sailors. More than half of the bulletin was devoted to the subject. (The programme summary of the bulletin and the text of the commentary have been separately released)

Iran's News Network, IRINN, also broadcast the interview with the British sailors and showed footage of them having dinner and talking to the TV. Other related news on the telephone conversations between Iranian officials with their counterparts on the detained marines were also broadcast on the news channel's round-the-clock news bulletins. The running caption of the TV channel also extensively covered the issues related to the detained British marines.

The second channel of the Iranian TV, IRTV2, IN its 1900 gmt bulletin also gave priority to the news of the of the British sailors. Considering the fact that the bulletin is short and is designed for brief news headlines, the subject was given significant coverage.

The "interview" topped the 1700 gmt news bulletin of Iran's Arabic-language TV network, Al-Alam. The network was the first Iranian TV to broadcast footage of the interview earlier in the day. Al-Alam continued to cover the story closely throughout the day.

Khuzestan Provincial TV was also monitored on 30 March. At 1315 gmt, the TV channel quoted Ahvaz Friday prayer Leader Hojjat ol- Eslam Heydari as condemning the alleged trespassing by the British marines; and stressing that Iran would give a crushing response to any kind of aggression. (Processed as: Iran will give "crushing response to any kind of aggression" - Khuzestan cleric)

Sistan-Baluchestan and West Azarbayjan TVs were monitored from the Baku office. Until 1715 gmt, no reports were observed to be carried on the British marines.

Radio

Similar to the TV channels, radio (VIRI) news bulletins at 1630 and 2030 gmt gave generous coverage to the news of the British marines. Several items of the bulletin dealt with issues related to the marines. However, the news items related to the subject started after domestic weather forecast, traffic-related news and issues of interest for Iranian travellers during the New Year holidays. The news items on British marines were by nature similar to what was broadcast on TV channels, but shorter. The commentary of the 2030 gmt bulletin was also on the British media reaction to the sailors' arrest.

Weather, possibility of flood and road traffics topped VIRI's 0430 gmt bulletin of the radio in the morning of 31 March. A rehash of the news of 30 March as well as EU's refusal to freeze ties with Tehran were among the subjects covered in brief by the radio. The radio also ran a commentary on the EU statement against Iran, calling it a "political and propaganda" move. (Processed as: Radio says EU position over Iran-UK row "propaganda and political" move)

News agencies

Iran's official news agency, IRNA, gave priority on its front page to the statements by Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman calling on European countries not to engage themselves in the issue of the detained British marines; and the news on the statement issued by the EU.

Iran's Students news agency, ISNA, on its front page gave priority to the telephone conversation of the Iranian president and Turkish prime minister on the British marines. (Processed as: Iran president to consider Turkey's request to release UK female marine) Report on the "interview" of the second British marine (Summers) on the TV was also on the front page.

Iran's Labour news agency, ILNA, also gave priority on its front page to the Iranian president's telephone conversation with the Turkish prime minister on the British marines and the sermons of Tehran Friday prayers on the Security Council resolution on British marines. Fars and Mehr news agencies also placed items related to the British marines on their front page but with less emphasis and lower down the page.

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