2024-08-03 07:35:46
Author: Elchin Alioglu
Source: Milli.Az
In today’s era, where the types of information dissemination and communication media are changing rapidly, the accessibility of information has become significantly easier. In such a case, the widespread spread of fake news on a global scale, knowingly or unknowingly, as well as the negative impact of such information on various social processes, has become particularly noticeable in recent years. Although it is methodologically difficult, today analyzing the distribution patterns and scope of disinformation can be considered necessary for applying an effective approach in the fight against disinformation.
The slogan of the 2nd Shusha Global Media Forum, held last month in Shusha, was not chosen by chance: “Exposure of false information: fight against disinformation”.
The flow of disinformation, fake information and fake news against our country continues.
For example, I remembered that just a few hours after the death of the late president of Iran, Ibrahim Raisi, in the infamous helicopter crash on May 19, the news spread: “It is no exception that the helicopter carrying the president of Iran was intercepted before taking off from Azerbaijan.”
Ibrahim Reisi participated in the opening of several facilities on the Iran-Azerbaijani border, met and held talks with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
It is known that he died when he returned to Tehran.
The source that disseminated the information about the “interference with the helicopter” was the London-based “Iran International” TV channel.
Suspicious finances, mysterious activity
In 2017, “Volant Media UK Ltd” founded a TV channel called “Iran International” in London.
This company, unknown to anyone, started operating in a short period of time, soon after renting 16 (!) space communication satellites, started broadcasting “Iran International” 24 hours a day (!). The company, which is owned by Adil Abdulkarim al Abdul Karim, does not make extensive statements about its activities and, despite having a media structure, is closed to the media.
The second office of the company is in Washington, the capital of the United States.
Although the owner of the company is a citizen of Saudi Arabia, it is emphasized that “Volant Media UK Ltd” is very close to Israel.
There are many controversial issues related to the management and financing of the “Iran International” TV channel. Questions have been repeatedly raised about the financial sources of the channel, and various allegations have been made. This raises many unanswered questions about the objectivity and impartiality of the channel’s information.
It is claimed that the US State Department has an indirect but serious influence on the activities of “Iran International”, which is currently broadcast mainly through the “TurkmenAlem 52°E/MonacoSAT” satellite.
It is no coincidence that most of the employees of “Iran International” are former employees of “Azadlig”, “Voice of America”, “Radio Farda”, and “Manoto”.
The head of the news department of the TV channel headed by Mahmud Enayati is Aliasgar Ramazanpour, who was the deputy minister of culture during the time of the former president of Iran, Mohammad Khatami.
Baku, Hamas, Iran…
Soon after Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Political Bureau of Hamas, was killed in an explosion at the “Neshat” villa, where the new president of the country, Masoud Pezeshkian, was returning from the inauguration ceremony in the capital of Iran, Tehran, “Iran International” again targeted Azerbaijan and voiced its “version”.
“Ranen Solomon, a well-known Israeli analyst, believes that the attack on Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran could have been carried out by a missile launched from the Caspian Sea. Azerbaijan borders Iran and is a close ally of Israel. From this point of view, it is highly probable that the attack was from the north, from the Azerbaijani side. That is, only a few hundred kilometers north of Tehran. “There are military equipment and intelligence information received from Israel,” Iran International reported.
That information, or rather fake information, actually shows the level of professionalism of “Iran International”.
The distance between Baku and Tehran is 777 kilometers. Let’s assume that the missile was launched from the Caspian Sea, as claimed by a “prominent Israeli analyst”. In this case, the distance is 450-460 kilometers.
In Azerbaijan, there are simply no ballistic missiles with kinetic warheads that hit the target at this distance. Even so, their release would have been detected by the radar stations of Turkey, Iran and Russia, as well as the initial radio-electronic reporting aircraft stations of the USA and NATO countries barrage in the sky of the Black Sea in only 0.5-0.7 seconds.
There was no missile launch and no reports of detection.
Fake news factory
Until now, “Iran International” TV channel has spread a number of false and fake information, and those disinformations have seriously damaged the credibility of the channel, let’s just mention some of them.
In January 2020, the channel’s information about the attack carried out by the United States against Iranian General Qasim Soleimani was considered baseless and biased. The channel spread misinformation about the Iranian government’s response to the incident, which caused justifiable outrage among the Iranian public.
In June 2021, the information about “protest actions” being held in various regions of Azerbaijan was a white lie, a gift.
“Iran International” TV channel targeted various countries and spread baseless information, which harmed international relations.
The TV channel’s information about the Turkish government and its policies is often criticized.
Simple fact: the information spread about military operations carried out by Turkey against Syria in 2019 was biased and unfounded. This information was aimed at increasing the tension in the region.
“Iran International” also published news that interfered in Azerbaijan’s internal affairs and aimed at damaging its international image. In 2020, during the 44-day Second Karabakh War, the TV channel tried to attack the position and interests of Azerbaijan and manipulate public opinion by continuously spreading fake information.
What is the reason for the lies?
The relations between Azerbaijan and Iran have not been smooth in recent years, and the cause of the tension in the contacts is, of course, not official Baku. However, despite all the efforts of foreign forces, sub-regional powers and especially the West, Baku and Tehran are taking practical steps to eliminate the coolness, misunderstanding and problems in mutual relations.
This process serves to deepen mutual understanding and friendly relations between the two countries. Both Iran and Azerbaijan continue their policies aimed at ensuring peace and stability in the region.
The telephone conversation between the newly elected President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, and the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, was an important event in terms of the development of bilateral relations. During this conversation, issues of strengthening historical and cultural ties between the two countries, and deepening cooperation in the economic and trade spheres were discussed. Also, the importance of protection of common interests and mutual support for maintaining peace and stability in the region was emphasized.
The visit of the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov to Iran and the high-level meetings held there also played an important role in the development of bilateral relations. In the meetings held by A. Asadov with the leadership of Iran, discussions were held in the direction of expansion of economic cooperation, implementation of new projects in the fields of energy, transport, and tourism. It was also decided to explore new opportunities for ensuring mutual interests and implementing joint projects in the region.
Relations between Iran and Azerbaijan have historically been based on the principles of friendship and neighborliness. Recently, these relations are developing in a positive direction. Cooperation between the two countries in economic, political and cultural fields has been raised to a new level. Both sides intend to take joint steps to ensure mutual interests and solve common problems.
Against the background of positive developments, the reaction of certain circles in Israel to Baku-Tehran relations is simply regrettable. The “Iran International” television channel, which has no doubts about its commitment to Israel, is trying to cast a shadow on Iran-Azerbaijani relations by spreading targeted misinformation. Such actions undermine efforts aimed at ensuring peace and stability in the region and undermine bilateral relations.
Azerbaijan continues its policy aimed at the development of relations with all neighboring states and takes consistent steps in this direction. Preservation of peace and stability in the region, strengthening of economic and cultural relations is one of the priorities of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. Attempts by certain, destructive forces in Israel to undermine Azerbaijan-Iran relations in cheap ways are regrettable, and such provocations do not serve to ensure peace and stability in the region.
The positive development of Iran-Azerbaijan relations serves to ensure peace and stability in the region. The steps taken in this direction are important in terms of ensuring mutual interests and strengthening friendly relations. Attempts by some circles in Israel, a friend and partner of Azerbaijan, to negatively influence these relations are unacceptable.
Those forces should understand once and for all that Azerbaijan will continue its policy of developing relations with all neighboring states
Despite the failed attempts of fake factories like “Iran International” and the forces behind them…