Voice of America Brings Back Farsi-Speaking Staff Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
- Following an escalation in missile attacks between Israel and Iran on June 13-14, 2025, Voice of America's Persian-language staff were urgently called back from administrative leave to resume broadcasting roles aimed at countering Iranian state media narratives.
- This reversal follows the Trump administration's March 15 executive order that cut funding and shut down VOA Persian, placing nearly all staff on administrative leave.
- VOA Persian is a critical outlet providing independent news and U.S. viewpoints to Iranian audiences amid Tehran's tight media control, and it began releasing new content immediately after the recall.
- Steve Herman, VOA's chief national correspondent, emphasized that reinstating Farsi-speaking staff was crucial, as losing the ability to connect with the Iranian audience had proven to be a significant mistake.
- The recall highlights the government's intent to counter Iranian state media during crisis, though VOA has lost audience and credibility following its shutdown and months off air.
20 Articles
20 Articles
The reason was the escalation in the Middle East.
NEWS HEADLINES: Voice of America rushes to reinstate Farsi-speaking staff amid Israel-Iran conflict – One America News Network – U-S-NEWS.COM
The Voice of America (VOA) sign is displayed on its building on March 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) OAN Staff Sophia Flores8:30 PM – Friday, June 13, 2025 Voice of America (VOA) has instructed 50 employees, who were previously placed on administrative leave by the Trump administration, to return to work immediately amid the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. VOA’s Chief National Correspondent, Steve Herman, stated t…
Most of Voice of America's employees had been placed on administrative leave by the Trump Administration in March. The reversal demonstrates the leading role of this public international media network. ...
At first, the government gave up on newspapers from the US Voice and Radio Europe Free, despite protests that showed that the two press networks covered millions of people from areas where free information...
EXCLUSIVE: Kari Lake says VOA's Persian news service 'rising to the occasion' amid Iran-Israel conflict
In an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital, U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) senior advisor Kari Lake confirmed that Voice of America’s (VOA) Persian news service is ramping up coverage as tensions between Iran and Israel intensify."History is being made, and VOA Persian news service is rising to the occasion to cover it," Lake said Friday."Farsi language is a statutorily required for USAGM. We are ramping up — as we’ve always planned to …
Voice of America Frantically Rehires Axed Farsi-Speaking Employees
Annabelle Gordon / Annabelle Gordon/Reuters The Trump administration has reversed course on yet another one of their early-administration decisions. Following Israel’s attack on Iran this week, they’re calling back several Farsi-speaking Voice of America employees. According to a new CNN report,…
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