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

Published 2026-09-22. Last reviewed 2026-09-22. 2 sources.

Status: historical, as of 2026-09-22.

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.[1][2][3]

- Country: [Iran](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/ir) (RSF 2026 rank: 177th of 180)
- Where: IR
- Level of government: National
- Tactics: Expulsion and visa denial, Shutdowns and blocking
- Stage: Punish (ladder: https://thewaronnews.com/ladders/expulsion_and_visa_denial#stage-punish)
- Head of government at the time: [Mahmoud Ahmadinejad](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/mahmoud-ahmadinejad)
- Issue of the day: Iran's disputed June 12, 2009 presidential election and the mass protests that followed allegations the vote was rigged for incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
- Outcome: Unknown. The sources reviewed do not establish when Iran lifted the specific 2009 restrictions on foreign correspondents covering the post-election protests.
- Era: The 2000s

## 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.[1][2][3]

## What reason was given

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.[1][2]

## 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

- 2009-06-21: Iran expels a BBC correspondent and restricts foreign journalists after a disputed 2009 election

## Who acted

| Name | Role in this incident | Office at the time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Jon Leyne](https://thewaronnews.com/actors/jon-leyne) | other | Tehran correspondent, BBC |
| [Mahmoud Ahmadinejad](https://thewaronnews.com/actors/mahmoud-ahmadinejad) | other | President of Iran |

## Sources

1. Iran elections: Journalists expelled and jailed in press crackdown. https://pressgazette.co.uk/archive-content/iran-elections-journalists-expelled-and-jailed-in-press-crackdown/ (Press Gazette, 2009-06-22).
2. Covering Iran Without A Press Pass. https://www.npr.org/2009/07/14/106555883/covering-iran-without-a-press-pass (NPR, 2009-07-14).

## Claims cited

[1] State media accused the BBC's Jon Leyne of fabricating news and supporting protesters. Quote: "dispatching fabricated news and reports, ignoring neutrality in news, supporting rioters and trampling the Iranian nation's rights" Source: Press Gazette, 2009-06-22. Iran elections: Journalists expelled and jailed in press crackdown. https://pressgazette.co.uk/archive-content/iran-elections-journalists-expelled-and-jailed-in-press-crackdown/ Claim: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/269, checked 2026-09-22.

[2] Iran's foreign minister described the disputed election as a very transparent competition. Quote: "very transparent competition" Source: Press Gazette, 2009-06-22. Iran elections: Journalists expelled and jailed in press crackdown. https://pressgazette.co.uk/archive-content/iran-elections-journalists-expelled-and-jailed-in-press-crackdown/ Claim: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/270, checked 2026-09-22.

[3] One report said the Iranian government revoked all foreign press passes during the unrest. Quote: "the Iranian government revoked all foreign press passes" Source: NPR, 2009-07-14. Covering Iran Without A Press Pass. https://www.npr.org/2009/07/14/106555883/covering-iran-without-a-press-pass Claim: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/271, checked 2026-09-22.

Source page: https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2009-iran-post-election-foreign-press-restrictions. The War On News, CC BY 4.0.