Voice of America recalls Farsi-speaking staff amid Israel-Iran conflict
The recall represents a significant reversal for the US government-funded broadcaster, which had its operations drastically reduced when the Trump administration implemented major cutbacks in March 2025
Voice of America has brought back dozens of previously sidelined staff members, particularly Farsi-speaking journalists, as tensions between Israel and Iran continue to escalate, reports CNN.
The recall represents a significant reversal for the US government-funded broadcaster, which had its operations drastically reduced when the Trump administration implemented major cutbacks in March 2025.
Steve Herman, VOA's chief national correspondent since 2022, confirmed that the broadcaster specifically targeted Farsi language speakers who had been placed on paid administrative leave.
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This strategic move indicates the US government's desire to strengthen its media outreach to Iran during this critical period.
Prior to the March cutbacks, VOA said that it produced four-plus hours a day of "Persian-language programming to Iran."
The VOA website said the content "confronts the disinformation and censorship efforts of the Iranian regime and enhances US efforts to speak directly to the Iranian people and the global Persian-speaking diaspora."
It is unclear how much content VOA has been beaming into Iran in recent weeks. The broadcaster's VOA Farsi channel on YouTube showed eight new videos since Israel struck inside Iran early Friday (13 June).
Staffers from some other VOA language services have also been called back to work.
Brett Bruen, president of the consulting firm Global Situation Room, reacted to Herman's X post about the news by tweeting to Kari Lake, who was tasked with gutting VOA.
"Turns out not having a channel to communicate with the Iranian people was a pretty bad idea, @KariLake," Bruen wrote.
A spokesperson for Lake did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment.
Patsy Widakuswara, one of the sidelined journalists who is suing the Trump administration to salvage the broadcaster, told CNN on Friday that "VOA's role in providing independent, factual and authoritative news has been proven throughout countless times of crisis. But after months off the air, we've already lost a lot of audience and credibility. They should bring us all back so we can respond to breaking news in all parts of the world."
