NEW DELHI — In a rare diplomatic rebuke, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in India has issued a strongly worded statement condemning sections of the Indian media for what it called “fake and fabricated” coverage during the recent Iran-Israel war. The unprecedented 12-day conflict, described by Tehran as an “imposed war” by the Zionist regime, has stirred international discourse — but Iran’s sharp criticism of Indian media marks a first in bilateral relations between the two countries.
The statement, released on Monday by the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi, accused several prominent Indian news outlets of spreading misinformation, disrespecting Iran’s leadership, and compromising professional ethics. Without naming specific media houses, the statement noted that both television and digital platforms had “published baseless reports” that not only disrespected the Islamic Republic but also “undermined public confidence” in journalistic standards.
“Indian media should not compromise the public trust and its professional credibility by disseminating fake and fabricated news,” the embassy said, adding that some coverage amounted to a “participation in external propaganda efforts.”
‘Disrespect to Iran’s Leadership and Sovereignty’
The statement appeared to be aimed particularly at media houses that repeated Israeli military claims or reported on internal dissent in Iran during the war. Multiple Indian channels, including Times Now, Republic TV, and India Today, ran segments highlighting alleged protests in Tehran, reports of civilian casualties from Iranian misfires, and the purported failure of Iran’s air defence systems.
In one instance, a Republic TV anchor declared during a prime-time debate that “Iran’s miscalculation has boomeranged,” suggesting that the Islamic Republic had “bitten off more than it could chew” in its confrontation with Israel. The channel cited unverified footage allegedly showing explosions in southern Iran, later debunked by independent analysts as recycled clips from Yemen.
Another broadcast by India Today ran a headline: “Iran’s Regime in Crisis?” and aired interviews with pro-Israel analysts who claimed that internal dissent was rising within Iran’s military ranks. The embassy, without naming the program, seemed to allude to this when it condemned “sensationalist and inaccurate content regarding Iran.”
Such portrayals, the Iranian mission argued, were not only misleading but deeply disrespectful to the Iranian people and their leadership.
‘Victory in Self-Defence’ and Supreme Leader’s Role
Reasserting Iran’s narrative of the war, the statement underscored that the Islamic Republic acted purely in self-defence after a series of Israeli provocations, including drone strikes on Iranian targets in Syria and Iraq. It praised Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for his “decisive guidance” as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and credited him with orchestrating what the embassy described as a “historic defeat inflicted on the Zionist regime.”
“The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, as Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces, successfully guided the military operations during the twelve-day imposed war,” the statement read.
It further asserted that Iran’s military actions were restrained, targeted, and legitimate under international law, contrasting sharply with “the blind and destructive bombing campaigns” allegedly carried out by Israeli forces.
Call for Ethical Journalism
While reaffirming Iran’s respect for freedom of expression and press freedom, the embassy warned Indian media institutions against becoming tools of “external propaganda” and called for adherence to factual, balanced reporting.
“The Embassy expects that the Indian media will uphold journalistic integrity, avoid participating in external propaganda efforts, and contribute to strengthening the historical ties of friendship and mutual respect between the peoples of two great civilizational-states.”
The term “civilizational-states” seemed deliberately chosen to highlight the shared heritage of India and Iran, invoking historical, cultural, and diplomatic links that date back centuries — from the Mughal courts to the Non-Aligned Movement.
Diplomatic Ripples Amid a Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
This statement comes at a time of evolving Middle Eastern geopolitics and growing strategic cooperation between India and Israel, including in defence and surveillance technologies. India’s muted official response to the Iran-Israel war, and its perceived tilt towards Israel in media narratives, have not gone unnoticed in Tehran.
Dr. Azam Javed, a West Asia scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said, “Iran is signalling that it won’t tolerate being caricatured in international media — especially in countries where it once enjoyed goodwill. This is also about shaping public opinion in a country that matters to its regional and energy diplomacy.”
Indian Media and Middle East Reporting: A Troubling Pattern?
This isn’t the first time Indian media has been accused of biased coverage on West Asian affairs. During previous rounds of Israel-Gaza conflicts, watchdogs such as the Media Vigil Collective and Alt News documented a consistent trend of Indian newsrooms disproportionately amplifying Israeli military claims while downplaying Palestinian suffering or Iranian concerns.
In April, a Dainik Jagran editorial called for “total eradication of terrorist sponsors like Iran,” drawing criticism from academics and even retired diplomats for its hawkish tone. Social media users from both Iran and India circulated screenshots of such headlines, accusing Indian media of promoting Islamophobic tropes and echoing Western narratives.
In contrast, a few alternative media platforms such as The Wire, Scroll.in, Clarion India.net ,and Article 14 attempted to offer more nuanced coverage by featuring voices from Iran, highlighting the humanitarian toll, and contextualising the geopolitical stakes.
A Diplomatic Caution or the Start of a Harder Line?
While the Iranian Embassy’s statement stops short of directly naming journalists or media owners, its unusually stern tone and invocation of “mutual respect” suggest a threshold has been crossed.
Whether the Indian government will respond to Iran’s criticism or whether media houses will issue clarifications remains to be seen. As of Monday evening, there has been no official comment from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
But for many observers, Iran’s statement is a reminder that media narratives can carry serious diplomatic weight — especially when wars are fought not only with missiles but also with images and headlines.
