Tehran: President Masoud Pezeshkian has paid a visit to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) headquarters in the capital, Tehran, as the news organization celebrates its 90th founding anniversary.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, President Pezeshkian visited IRNA on Saturday. He was accompanied by the esteemed Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Abbas Salehi, Director of Government Information Council Elias Hazrati, Deputy for Communications and Information of the Presidential Office Mohammad-Mehdi Tabatabai, Deputy for Political Affairs of the Presidential Office Mehdi Sanayi, and presidential aide Yousef Pezeshkian, among others.
The president and the other dignitaries were welcomed by IRNA's CEO Hossein Jaberi-Ansari and Deputy for News Javad Daliri before meeting with directors-general, managers, and chief editors from the news organization's various services. Pezeshkian also visited IRNA's newsroom, where he was briefed on how the news report is prepared.
During the president's visit to the news agency, IRNA's 90th anniversary stamp and a book of oral history of the organization were unveiled.
In remarks to senior editors, President Pezeshkian emphasized the timely and accurate dissemination of information as an urgent necessity, as hostile forces engaged in lies, slander, and accusations. He urged, 'We must be straightforward with the people and speak the truth when delivering news.' He added that falsehoods are widely spread in the media and on the internet, highlighting the grave sin of lying.
The president expressed his dissatisfaction with Iran's lag in living standards despite its rich resources, compared to neighboring nations with less but enjoying higher welfare standards. He stressed the need for internal reform, management, and planning to ensure dignity and a high-quality life for all Iranians.
President Pezeshkian concluded by stating that Iran's fate is in the hands of its people. He called for a collective effort and a shift in perspective to determine their destiny and achieve their goals.