US President Donald Trump has accused CNN of reporting a “false statement” from Iran, allegedly sourced from a Nigerian news outlet, following the announcement of a ceasefire between the US and Iran.
The ceasefire deal was revealed roughly two hours before Trump’s deadline to destroy Iranian “civilisation”.
“The enemy, in its unfair, unlawful, and criminal war against the Iranian nation, has suffered an undeniable, historic, and crushing defeat,” CNN reported, quoting a statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) in the wake of the ceasefire deal.
According to the statement, the council said Iran achieved a major victory and forced the US to accept its 10-point plan.
Trump rejected the claim in a post on Truth Social.
“The alleged Statement put out by CNN World News is a FRAUD, as CNN well knows,” he said.
He added that the “false Statement was linked to a Fake News site (from Nigeria) and, of course, immediately picked up by CNN, and blared out as a “legitimate” headline”.
Trump did not name the Nigerian outlet or provide evidence to support his allegation. In another post, he described it as “a new, trouble making site from Nigeria”.
He also directed CNN to withdraw the report, stating that authorities had begun investigations to determine whether the “terrible” reporting constituted a crime.
In contrast, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, issued what Trump described as the country’s official position, thanking Pakistan for mediating the ceasefire.
“If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations,” Araghchi said.
“For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.”
Araghchi stated he was speaking on behalf of the SNSC, Iran’s top security body responsible for safeguarding national interests and the Islamic revolution.
Meanwhile, Tasnim, a news agency affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), published a similar SNSC statement reflecting elements of the CNN report.
“The enemy has suffered an undeniable, historic and crushing defeat in its cowardly, illegal and criminal war against the Iranian nation,” the statement reads.
The SNSC added that “Iran achieved a great victory and forced the criminal America to accept its 10-point plan”, congratulating citizens on the outcome.
Separately, Brendan Carr, chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission, warned that broadcasters risk losing licences if they fail to operate in the public interest.
CNN defended its reporting, maintaining that the statement was sourced from Iranian officials and carried by multiple Iranian state media outlets.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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