Ghalibaf made the remarks in a message on Saturday marking National Reporter’s Day in Iran. Observed on the 17th day of the Iranian calendar month of Mordad, the occasion commemorates the anniversary of the martyrdom of IRNA reporter Mahmoud Saremi, along with eight Iranian diplomats, at the Iranian Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1998.
He said the fate of nations is determined not only on the battlefield but also on the front of narrative.
“Zionism and global arrogance do not bomb cities alone; they have also targeted truth and people’s trust. If they once waged wars against civilizations with bullets, they are now entering the field with news, images, rumors, and distortion,” the speaker said in his message.
In such a world, he added, reporters are not merely responsible for producing news. Still, they are “fighters whose fortress is knowledge, whose weapon is truth, and whose mission is to defend psychological security, national identity, and the cultural sovereignty of a nation.”
Ghalibaf cited the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran, which began on February 28 and lasted 40 days, as the most recent example of Iranian reporters conveying the truth to the world.
“The third imposed war demonstrated to people across the world that proud Iran is not only invincible on the military front, but also on the front of narrative. The sons of this land do not allow the enemy to impose its illusory victories on public opinion,” he said, praising Iranian reporters for accurately portraying the nation’s resistance.
Defense Ministry hails reporters for defending country
The Iranian Defense Ministry also issued a statement on National Reporter’s Day, congratulating journalists on the occasion.
It said responsible and committed media outlets are contributing to efforts to strengthen national cohesion and keep hope alive by honestly conveying the truth at a time when enemies are seeking to distort facts and wage cognitive and psychological warfare.
The ministry referred to the two wars launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in 2025 and 2026, saying reporters who lost their lives during the conflicts demonstrated that conveying the truth is itself a form of battle.
“Today, the country’s defense and progress depend more than ever on media outlets that reflect the Islamic Republic of Iran’s new standing in the world—media that, alongside accurate reporting, can contribute to greater national efficiency and accelerate the country’s path of progress through in-depth analysis, responsible scrutiny, reality-based efforts to inspire hope, and the explanation of national achievements.”
“A media outlet that tells the truth builds trust—and trust is a nation’s greatest asset for overcoming threats with dignity and shaping its future,” the statement said.
IRNA