Today Voice of America’s News Center launches a weekly, 25-minute English language podcast to put the developing crisis in Iran and related global reaction into context for its worldwide audience. The new podcast, titled “Flashpoint Iran,” will offer in-depth analysis on the rising tensions in Iran and a big picture understanding of daily events.
The September 16 death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, after her arrest for not having her hair fully covered, sparked protests inside and outside Iran that are ongoing. Since protests erupted across the country, audiences to VOA’s reporting on the crisis have soared despite the regime’s attempts to block independent media and social platforms. Video views to VOA Persian are up 379 percent on social media platforms and 888 percent on their website, with website visits and engagement on social media platforms showing similar gains. “Flashpoint Iran” will further that reporting. The podcast will offer VOA reporters’ expertise and unique user-generated content, along with insights from VOA's Persian language team.
“Flashpoint Iran” joins Voice of America’s 25-minute daily podcast, “Flashpoint Ukraine,” which launched on February 14, 2022, to cover the fast-moving developments in Ukraine, leading to the Russian invasion that ensued later the same month.
“In this critical time in Iran’s history, the Voice of America is making every effort to provide its audience in Iran and around the world current, balanced and comprehensive information and analysis about developments there,” said Acting VOA Director Yolanda Lόpez. “This new podcast in English will supplement our existing 24/7 multimedia programming in Farsi for our audience in Iran and the Persian diaspora around the world.”
The “Flashpoint Iran” podcast will air at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday evenings, Washington, D.C. time, which is 6:00 a.m. Wednesday morning in Tehran, on VOA English radio channels and stations around the world.
