Borujerd: Managing Director of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) Hossein Jaberi-Ansari has described journalists as chroniclers of truth and recorders of history, saying their duty to stand alongside people, particularly during crises and difficult circumstances, is both a heavy responsibility and a sacred mission.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Jaberi Ansari made the remarks on Saturday during a visit to the grave of journalist Mahmoud Saremi in Borujerd, western Iran, to mark Iran's Journalists' Day. He paid tribute to Saremi, who was killed in 1998 while serving as IRNA's correspondent in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. Iran observes Journalists' Day on August 8 each year in memory of Saremi.

The managing director said the occasion provides an opportunity to remember the important role of media professionals, particularly the journalists who lost their lives while carrying out their professional duties and defending the truth.

Jaberi Ansari highlighted the presence of Iranian journalists during the country's eight-year war imposed by Iraq's Baath regime as well as subsequent conflicts, noting their responsibility in documenting events and conveying developments to the public.

He emphasized that journalists must report events and facts accurately while upholding the values and principles embodied by those who sacrificed their lives in the pursuit of truth and professional duty.

The IRNA chief also described journalism as more than simply transmitting news, saying the preservation of major historical movements has often depended on the work of those who documented and conveyed the truth.

Referring to the event of Ashura, he cited Hazrat Zaynab - Imam Hussain's sister - as an example of the role of truth-telling in preserving historical memory and transmitting the message of a major social and religious event.

Jaberi Ansari remarked that journalists are often among the first people to stand alongside communities during major developments. Their reporting, he added, plays an exceptional and lasting role in recording events and shaping society's collective memory.

He urged Iranian journalists to remain committed to truth-seeking, public service, and accurate reporting, saying future generations will understand many contemporary events through the accounts produced by today's media professionals.