New BBC Persia channel kicks up controversy in Iran

Beirut: Professional and impartial journalists or a bunch of spies?

The British Broadcasting Corporation's Persian-language channel created controversy in Iran even before its official launch Wednesday.

The BBC was accused a month ago of attempting to recruit Iranians for "espionage and psychological warfare," according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency.

Accreditation

It included excerpts from an official's statement on its website in October:

"The public opinion is concerned that the establishment of BBC Persian is in line with the intervening and opportunist policies of the British government in domestic affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Meanwhile, the BBC said the new channel will present "high-quality, accurate and impartial news, information and analysis" to Persian speakers in their native language.

But the channel also will face hurdles. BBC spokes-man Mike Gardner told the Associated Press in an e-mail that his company has a complex relationship with Iran.

"We request permission to have accreditation for our BBC Persian correspondents," Gardner said. "Sometimes we get it, sometimes we don't. We continue to seek interviews with officials."

According to the British newspaper the Guardian, the channel will present an alternative:

Gap in market

"It is aiming to fill a huge gap in the market between the strictly controlled Iranian media on the one hand and the US-funded Voice of America and exile channels beaming light entertainment and anti-regime propaganda on the other."

Nigel Chapman, director of BBC World Service, said in a statement released by the British broadcaster Thursday:

"BBC Persian TV ... will bring 'the world to its viewers,' and thus meet the needs of audiences who tell us that they want more access to the BBC's high-quality news and information services."