CNN & Iran: Media Bias & Misrepresentation?
- Hooshang Amirahmadi, a Rutgers professor with 50 years of experience in academia and foreign service, believes the current conflict between Israel and Iran will initially escalate animosity.
- According to Amirahmadi, the destruction of infrastructure on both sides will likely fuel initial hostility.He suggests that war can sometiems lead to mutual understanding and recognition of common...
- Amirahmadi contends that American news organizations often depict Iran as a pariah state filled with terrorists.
explore the complex role of media in shaping U.S. perceptions of Iran. An expert analyzes how the focus on the anti-American regime frequently enough overshadows the pro-American sentiments and diverse viewpoints prevalent among the Iranian people.This piece, available on News Directory 3, investigates how the depiction of the
Iran Expert Assesses US Perceptions Amid Rising Tensions
Updated june 22, 2025
Hooshang Amirahmadi, a Rutgers professor with 50 years of experience in academia and foreign service, believes the current conflict between Israel and Iran will initially escalate animosity. However, he hopes it will ultimately unite people and foster understanding of their shared humanity. Amirahmadi founded the American Iranian Council and directed the Centre for Iranian Research and Analysis.
According to Amirahmadi, the destruction of infrastructure on both sides will likely fuel initial hostility.He suggests that war can sometiems lead to mutual understanding and recognition of common humanity. He asks,”Why couldn’t that happen here?”
Amirahmadi contends that American news organizations often depict Iran as a pariah state filled with terrorists. He notes this mirrors Iranian TV’s portrayal of Israel. He laments that this animosity persists despite his four decades of work on U.S.-Iran relations. The Iran expert also points out the challenge of getting direct news coverage from Iran and the shortage of Iran specialists in American universities who can offer non-American perspectives.
While acknowledging the existence of dissident films from Iran, which showcase opposition to the regime and a desire for democracy, Amirahmadi emphasizes that these films may not fully represent the views of all Iranians. He recalls that Iran was once the most pro-American country in the Middle East before the revolution,a sentiment that still resonates with many Iranians today.
Amirahmadi believes the Iranian street is largely pro-American, in contrast to the anti-American regime. He contrasts this with Saudi Arabia, where he claims the opposite is true. He asserts that the average Iranian is far more pro-American than the average Saudi, noting that many Iranians are secular and hold diverse economic views, similar to Americans.
he highlights the irony that Iran and Israel, despite being enemies, are both non-Arab majority countries in the Middle East. He stresses that the views of the people,rather than the regime,should be prioritized,as regimes change while the Iranian people’s sentiments endure.
Iran sadly has been presented to Americans as a pariah state made up only of terrorists. It’s actually really a similar situation to what Iranian TV portrays vis-a-vis Israel – “they’re all terrorists.”
In Iran the regime is anti-American and the street is pro-American. And in Saudi it’s the reverse. But of course it’s the street that should matter more. The regime changes. The street doesn’t.
What’s next
To ensure more accurate American perceptions of the Iranian people, Amirahmadi suggests showcasing ordinary Iranians on television, rather than solely focusing on the regime in news coverage. He proposes a Hollywood show featuring Iranians in Iran as main characters to foster deeper understanding.