Iran Coverage Almost Non-Existent On The Voice of America

The Voice of America (VOA) has faced significant challenges in covering the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites that began around June 21, 2025, due to prior administrative cutbacks and staff furloughs initiated by the Trump administration in March 2025. Despite these constraints, VOA’s Persian-language service was reactivated to report on the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, which included U.S. strikes on nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

VOA’s Persian service, critical for reaching Iranian audiences, was abruptly recalled from administrative leave on June 13, 2025, as hostilities intensified following Israel’s initial attacks on Iran. However, the service struggled with reduced capacity. Posts on X and media reports indicate that VOA’s Persian Service did not carry President Trump’s speech about the bombing live, attributed to a “catastrophic failure” due to Kari Lake’s earlier removal of most staff. The remaining staff were unable to upload a video of the speech, highlighting operational limitations.

Despite these setbacks, VOA’s Persian service, alongside Radio Farda (a branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty), continued to provide some limited coverage, including debunking Iranian state media claims, such as a report of an Israeli pilot being captured. The service’s website was updated with stories on the conflict, though staff expressed concerns about lost audience credibility due to months of reduced programming.

The Voice of America has broadcast just 75 minutes of content targeted to its audience in Iran over the last 72 hours, a source familiar with its schedule said.

According to Axios, the programming was limited to just one show for around 30 minutes Sunday morning and another for around 45 minutes Monday morning, the source said.

Before the Trump administration's efforts to gut funding for USAGM and its outlets, the VOA broadcast 24/7 for its Iranian audience.

Lawmakers are growing concerned that what was once considered the country's greatest soft power weapon against authoritarian regimes has been sloppily gutted for political points.

Critics, including former VOA journalists like Patsy Widakuswara and Jessica Jerreat, argued that the cutbacks had severely hampered VOA’s ability to respond effectively to breaking news. Layoffs delivered to hundreds of VOA employees, including Persian service staff, further strained resources. Nevertheless, the recall of staff underscored the Trump administration’s recognition of VOA’s utility during the crisis, though it was seen as a reactive measure.