TERHAN -- President Ebrahim Raisi said Tuesday Iran is in its strongest ever position and no equation in the region will be viable without its decisive role.
“Despite all sanctions and threats, we are stronger than ever and we are in a position of power,” he told the 18th General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) here.
“After the era of unilateralism, a new chapter is emerging now and new powers are being established in the world,” he said. “Today, the power of the Americans in the region is declining.”
Elsewhere in his remarks, Raisi underlined the need for the formation of a media coalition in the region and the world to protect countries against the influence of the West’s culture.
He touched on the massive campaign against the culture of independent nations in the current world of communications, saying media outlets play a very important role in fending off a “ruthless attack on independence, freedom, culture and identity of independent nations.”
Raisi said media outlets have a very important mission to protect the civilizational identity and assets of people, particularly in the very rich Asia and Pacific regions, as well as the independence of countries and nations.
He warned that arrogant powers seek to impose their own perceptions on countries, adding that independent media are responsible for helping nations get a correct understanding of the events.
The president said journalists should play a role to prevent violence, organized crime, ethnic and religious conflicts and drug trafficking as well as other issues through their media.
“The enemies seek to sow discord among nations. Today’s war is the war of narratives, that is, several different narratives are presented about one incident and one must look for the facts to determine which one is correct,” Raisi added.
Formed in 1961 on UNESCO’s initiative, the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies is an association of news agencies from UNESCO member states in the Asia-Pacific region.
OANA provides a news wire service containing articles provided by its members.
OANA currently has 43 members from 35 countries, covering two-thirds of the world’s population.