Iran International TV at the Center of Iran-Saudi Arabia Talks

Since its launch in May 2017, the London-based (but reportedly Saudi owned), Persian-language Iran International TV has served as a media platform for all individuals and groups opposing the Islamic Republic, playing a role in Iran not dissimilar to that of Al Jazeera during the Arab Spring uprisings. The Islamic Republic designated Iran International a “terrorist organization,” on charges of inciting anti-government riots, and there are constant reports of harassment of family members of the network’s journalists within Iran. It is therefore hardly surprising that Iranian officials condition normalization of relations between Tehran and Riyadh, hopes for which were recently revived as Iranian and Saudi officials met in Brazil, on the closure or, at the very least, change of behavior of Iran International TV.  

• January 5: Mohammad Hosseini, Iran’s vice president for parliamentary affairs, commenting on his meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, was quoted by Jamaran News as saying: “Iran and Saudi Arabia are prepared for continued negotiations. Our emphasis is continuation of the Baghdad talks … The Saudi party insists the talks must continue and address matters of mutual concern before restoration of relations between the two countries … We too insist the Baghdad talks must continue. In the wake of the recent unrest, certain countries stopped negotiating but have now understood they must continue the dialogue with the Islamic Republic.” Hosseini also said: “Iran International Television Network played an important role in the recent unrest, which must be investigated. It must be discussed in these talks. If the Saudis have certain concerns, which they bring forward, it is also apparent to this side as well that the media warfare was supported by Saudi Arabia. At any rate, both parties are ready for continued negotiations. For the time being, the political relations are severed, but the two countries can maintain political relations, in spite of having conflicts in a certain field.”   
• January 7: A large number of Iranian media outlets, including the centrist daily Ettelaat, reported Russian Sputnik News’ commentary on the alleged “expected positive outcome of Iran-Saudi Arabia negotiations,” in the wake of the January 2 meeting between the Saudi foreign minister and Iranian vice president in Brazil. Quoting Sputnik News’ analysis, the Ettelaat report stated: “Statements by Tehran officials show that Saudi Arabia is interested in continued negotiations, even though the previous five rounds of negotiations did not show significant progress” and stressed the Iraqi prime minister too is interested in continuing the role of his predecessor as mediator between Iran and Saudi Arabia, in particular concerning the conflict in Yemen. The Ettelaat report ended with the concluding words of the Sputnik News analysis, claiming Saudi Arabia is “inclined to improve relations with Iran due to the poor state of Saudi-American relations.” 
• January 7: In a very different take, reformist daily Etemad printed a Persian translation of a Wall Street Journal piece arguing the “threat of Iran has reduced tensions between Riyadh and Washington.” 
• January 7: Majid Nouri, a Middle East analyst, in analysis in centrist Afkar News asked whether “Iran-Saudi reconciliation is nigh,” and concluded the result is conditioned on an end to “vast financial support to the terrorist Iran International Television network during the recent unrest.”

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