This duality was summed up in the commentaries that followed: “When missiles hit the IRIB, it was not just walls that fell, but the intellectual walls of those who have long held collective rationality hostage with the slogan ‘Either with us or against us.’”
The Gray Zone: Between Propaganda and Press Freedom
The attack reignited a fierce debate on media freedom and propaganda. On one hand, Israel’s action was condemned as a violation of international law. On the other, critics within Iran seized the moment to question whether the IRIB itself had lived up to its responsibilities as a national media organization.
In the words of one commentator:
“In the 21st century, with all the human rights conventions in place, neither Israel has the right to target journalists, nor does the IRIB have the right to censor the voice of the nation.”
This complex reality — far from being a simple dichotomy of good versus evil — highlights the gray zone that Sahar Emami and her colleagues navigate daily. They work within a system that demands loyalty but also face a public increasingly aware of global standards for journalism and media ethics.