Al Alam goes off air as operators claim breach of contract

Operators of Egyptian Nilesat and Arabsat have stopped Iranian Arabic news television channel Al Alam from airing its programmes on Tuesday.

Media reports say that the operators of Nilesat and Arabsat cited a breach of contract according to Egypt's MENA news agency. A senior executive with Arabsat told the London-based Arabic daily Asharq Al Awsat that the action was not influenced by any political decision and that it is purely a contractual disagreement between the two sides.

Al Alam though said they had not been given a reason. An official with the television channel told Asharq Al Awsat that Tehran was informed of the decision in a surprise move, which he says was due to ‘political reasons’.

According to analysts some Arab governments are worried about the channel's popularity and Iran's growing regional influence. Saudi Arabia hosted a meeting of Arab information ministers on Tuesday. The move comes at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and Western-allied Arab governments, particularly Saudi Arabia.

Iran has occasionally expressed concerns over the treatment of minority Shiites in the kingdom. Tehran and Riyadh have exchanged warnings about the treatment and conduct of Shia pilgrims arriving in the Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the next coming days.

Al Alam's coverage of the war in Yemen including statements from the rebels of Al Houthi accusing Saudi Arabia of involvement may also have angered Riyadh.