Iran president rebukes state TV over unrealistic narratives
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized state broadcaster IRIB on Sunday, saying some of its analyses and narratives create an “unrealistic” picture of the country’s conditions.
Pezeshkian said the issue required a serious review.
He said public opinion should not be shaped by undocumented information or interpretations lacking scientific backing.
“Truth is independent of individuals,” he said. “In the language of science, legitimacy is defined by evidence, reasoning and documentation.”
A video from inside the cafe on Tehran’s Valiasr Street was also released, which appeared to show men and women seated around tables during a live music performance.
In the footage, some audience members could be seen clapping, filming with phones and moving their heads to the music as a performer performed near a microphone and music stand.
The report said Tehran’s public venues police acted after receiving reports about the cafe’s activities.
Authorities accused the cafe of holding Western music events and providing a setting for what officers described as “deviant sects,” involving young men and women.
They also said customers at the cafe had been seen making “strange and unusual movements.”
In May 2024, police arrested over 260 people at an underground rock music festival, branding the event a “satanist gathering.”
