The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

Incident

Iran expels a BBC correspondent and restricts foreign journalists after a disputed 2009 election

IranRSF 2026 rank: 177th of 180

Engraving of an empty press briefing room with a lectern and rows of chairs

After Iran's disputed June 2009 presidential election produced mass protests, the government expelled BBC correspondent Jon Leyne, revoked foreign press credentials, confined most foreign journalists to office-based reporting, and blocked access to numerous websites.123

What happened

Iran's June 12, 2009 presidential election, which officials declared a large win for incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, prompted mass street protests over allegations of fraud. The government accused foreign media of inciting unrest; the state Fars news agency accused BBC correspondent Jon Leyne of "dispatching fabricated news and reports, ignoring neutrality in news, supporting rioters and trampling the Iranian nation's rights," and authorities ordered him to leave the country. The government revoked accreditation for many foreign journalists, barred them from reporting from the streets, and permitted only phone interviews and official government sources; Al Arabiya's Tehran operation was temporarily suspended. Foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki called the election "a very transparent competition" and accused Britain of interference without providing evidence. Some journalists, including The New York Times' Roger Cohen, continued reporting despite the restrictions. Authorities also blocked numerous websites and limited mobile-phone text messaging during the unrest that followed.123

What reason was given

Stated justification

State media accused BBC correspondent Jon Leyne of "dispatching fabricated news and reports, ignoring neutrality in news, supporting rioters and trampling the Iranian nation's rights"; Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki called the election "a very transparent competition" and blamed unrest on foreign interference.12

What changed for reporting

Foreign correspondents lost accreditation and were confined largely to phone interviews and official sources rather than street reporting; one report said the government revoked all foreign press passes during the unrest, forcing some journalists to work without official credentials.3

Timeline

2009

21 June 2009
Iran expels a BBC correspondent and restricts foreign journalists after a disputed 2009 election

Who acted

NameRole in this incidentOffice at the time
Jon LeyneotherTehran correspondent, BBC
Mahmoud AhmadinejadotherPresident of Iran

Sources

  1. Iran elections: Journalists expelled and jailed in press crackdown archived copyPress Gazette, 2009-06-22, reporting. Source record
  2. Covering Iran Without A Press Pass archived copyNPR, 2009-07-14, reporting. Source record

Claims and evidence

Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.

  1. State media accused the BBC's Jon Leyne of fabricating news and supporting protesters.dispatching fabricated news and reports, ignoring neutrality in news, supporting rioters and trampling the Iranian nation's rightsIran elections: Journalists expelled and jailed in press crackdown archived copy, Press Gazette, 2009-06-22.Claim 269, checked 2026-09-22.
  2. Iran's foreign minister described the disputed election as a very transparent competition.very transparent competitionIran elections: Journalists expelled and jailed in press crackdown archived copy, Press Gazette, 2009-06-22.Claim 270, checked 2026-09-22.
  3. One report said the Iranian government revoked all foreign press passes during the unrest.the Iranian government revoked all foreign press passesCovering Iran Without A Press Pass archived copy, NPR, 2009-07-14.Claim 271, checked 2026-09-22.