Jebelli, Peyman

Person/Entity:
Person
Also Known As:
Jebelli, Payman; Jebli, Peyman
Sanctioned by U.S:
Yes
Date Sanctioned by U.S:
2022-11-16
Sanctioned by EU:
Yes
Date Sanctioned by EU:
2022-12-12
Sanctioned by U.K.:
No
Sanctioned by Canada:
Yes
Date Sanctioned by Canada:
2022-10-11
Sanctioned by Australia:
No
U.S Laws/EOs Sanctioned Under:
EU Laws/Regulations Sanctioned Under:
U.K. Laws/Regulations Sanctioned Under:
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Canadian Laws/Regulations Sanctioned Under:
Australian Laws/Regulations Sanctioned Under:
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Description

Director General of the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) network, 2021–present.1

"Peyman Jebelli (Jebelli) was appointed the director of IRIB by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in September 2021. He has directed the replacement of senior managers with those who have close ties to the IRGC, and he has worked directly with the IRGC to create false narratives for publication. In his current and past roles at IRIB, Jebelli has been responsible for the broadcasts of many forced confessions of political prisoners, such as those described above. Mohsen Bormahani (Bormahani) is the deputy director of IRIB and previously served in senior roles in IRIB. Shortly after entering the position, Bormahani replaced a number of directors of IRIB channels, reportedly with members of an ultraconservative political party. Ahmad Noroozi (Noroozi) was appointed the head of the IRIB World Service in October 2021. The IRIB World Service oversees the IRIB’s foreign-language outlets and in his role, Noroozi also acts as the CEO of IRIB’s English and French flagship channel. Yousef Pouranvari (Pouranvari) is the Director of the Programs and Scheduling Department at the same IRIB foreign language flagship channel. Jebelli... [is] being designated pursuant to E.O. 13846 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, IRIB, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13628, which was revoked and superseded by E.O. 13846."2 

"Peyman Jebelli is the Director of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), which is notorious for being a regime mouthpiece. IRIB severely restricts and denies the free flow of information to the Iranian people. Furthermore, IRIB is actively involved in organising and broadcasting forced 'confessions' of regime critics, obtained through intimidation and severe violence. These 'confessions' are often aired following public protests, or prior to an execution as a means of reducing public backlash. As Director of IRIB, Jebelli is responsible for IRIB’s actions and news content. Whereas several high-profile state broadcasting personnel have resigned recently and disavowed the Iranian regime’s violent response to the 2022 protests, Jebelli continues to act in his position. His appointment as director of Iran’s main official news source was authorised by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and indicates ideological proximity to the regime. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran."3 

Member of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, an extremist-dominated government policy-making body that developed stricter regulations in 2019 for mandatory hijab wearing. Appointed by the supreme leader. Headed by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who has spearheaded increased enforcement of hijab laws and regulations, including by the "Morality Police."4

Sources: 

1. https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2022/10/canada-imposes-additional-sanctions-on-the-iranian-regime.html

2. https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1109

3. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:L:2022:318I:FULL&from=EN

4. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/iranian-linked-to-hijab-crackdown-is-director-of-british-migrant-charity-7729fcrkp; https://sccr.ir/members/3

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