How Ali Khamenei used numbers, narratives and conspiracy to shape reality in Iran - Poynter

"For nearly four decades, Khamenei was the most influential figure in Iranian politics. He was not only the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and responsible for appointing and dismissing the head of the judiciary, but he also openly and covertly intervened in matters related to cabinet ministers and members of parliament."

"At Factnameh, an independent Persian-language fact-checking organization and a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network Code of Principles, we examined 49 claims made by the former leader of the Islamic Republic: 13 received the label "Ridiculous," 19 were rated "False," 11 "Misleading," 2 "Half True," and only 4 claims earned a "True" rating."

"A large portion of Khamenei's public remarks consisted of abstract concepts and general commentary about policies and the state of the country, sometimes accompanied by rhetorical threats against the "enemy," statements that are generally not fact-checkable."

Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader for nearly four decades following the 1979 revolution, wielded extensive power over military, judicial, and political affairs while shaping Iran's domestic and international policies. He utilized frequent public speeches as a primary instrument of power, sometimes delivering addresses multiple times weekly to communicate his views to various audiences. Factnameh, an independent Persian-language fact-checking organization, analyzed 49 of Khamenei's claims and found troubling accuracy rates: only 4 claims were rated true, while 13 received ridiculous ratings and 19 were labeled false. Additionally, 11 claims were marked misleading and 2 half-true. Much of Khamenei's public discourse consisted of abstract concepts and general policy commentary with rhetorical threats, making many statements difficult to fact-check.

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