Challenges from Iranian Authorities and Relocation to Beirut
After completing her three-year assignment in Turkey, Kohnoord relocated to London, where she took on a new role as the presenter of the BBC Farsi program Your Turn. However, her increased visibility brought additional pressure from Iranian authorities. Kohnoord and her family were targeted by Homeland’s intelligence agencies, who attempted to undermine her credibility through various means. Iranian officials created a fake biography, fabricated a Facebook page in her name, and summoned her family members for questioning, all in an effort to intimidate her into leaving her position at the BBC.
Despite these challenges, Kohnoord persevered, eventually relocating to Beirut to head the BBC Farsi bureau there. Her work in Lebanon allowed her to cover some of the most significant conflicts in the region, including the rise of ISIS and the siege of Mosul.