[custom_adv] Iran International is a British-based Persian television station funded by Saudi investors. It is aimed at Iranian viewers and broadcasts free-to-air by satellite.Iran International is owned by Volant Media UK Ltd.It is licensed in the United Kingdom to Global Media Circulating Ltd as an editorial news service based in London. [custom_adv] It was launched on 18 May 2017 and is managed by DMA Media Ltd, which has bureaus in Paris, Istanbul, Kabul and Washington.In October 2018, The Guardian reported that the TV channel is funded by the government of Saudi Arabia through a "secretive offshore entity and a company whose director is a Saudi Arabian businessman with close links to the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman". [custom_adv] One source stated $250 million had been provided, which was estimated to cover five years of operation costs.Iran International deny these claims, stating that it is owned by a private limited company based in London, with private individuals as shareholders, and has no connection to the Saudi or any government. [custom_adv] Volant Media, the company that owns Iran International, has a director named Adel Abdulkarim, who is a Saudi national. Adel Abdulkarim is a long time business partner with Abdulrahman al-Rashed, former general manager of the Saudi-owned news channel Al Arabiya and current board member of Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG). [custom_adv] According to the report by The Guardian, Abdulrahman al-Rashed was also involved in the operations and funding behind Iran International.Corporate documents for Volant Media shows that another Saudi national, Fahad Ibrahim Aldeghither, was the major shareholder of Volant Media before Adel Abdukarim.[ [custom_adv] Aldeghither owned over 75% of the shares of Volant Media from May 2016 to May 2018. Fahad Ibrahim Aldeghither was the chairman of Mobile Telecommunication Company Saudi Arabia (Zain) from March 2013 to February 2016. Zain Saudi is the third-largest telecoms provider in Saudi Arabia. [custom_adv] According to Middle East Eye, Iran International is a media platform for the Iranian opposition. Kourosh Ziabari of Al-Monitor wrote it "does not shy away from presenting itself as an opposition media organization" and frequently gives the microphone to guests who criticize the Iranian government. The channel has been referred to as an "Iranian exile news outlet" by Borzou Daragahi of The Independent. [custom_adv] The channel is known for raising the profile of Reza Pahlavi, the last heir apparent to the former Iranian throne, by constant coverage and repeatedly interviewing him.
