Iran International

What Iran International does

Iran International is a London-based Persian-language television channel and multi-platform news organization operated by Volant Media UK Limited, a private UK-incorporated media company. Founded in 2017, it provides independent news, political analysis, investigative journalism, and cultural programming covering Iran and global affairs, primarily serving the global Persian-speaking diaspora and domestic Iranian audiences who seek coverage critical of the Iranian government. The channel operates from a heavily-secured facility in west London with approximately 200 journalists, and has been labeled a 'terrorist organisation' by Tehran since 2022.

The company's core technology is a multi-platform broadcasting infrastructure comprising satellite television distribution, a tri-lingual website (Persian, Arabic, English) with live TV streaming and live blog updates, a YouTube live channel (@IRANINTL), and radio/podcast distribution. Its product portfolio includes the core TV channel, a video-on-demand (VOD) library, radio programs (Cheshmandaz, Siyasat ba Morad Visi, Harf-e Akhar), the Eye for Iran podcast, and a multi-section news portal spanning Iran, World, Human Rights, National Revolution, Sports, Finance, and Special Reports verticals. Editorial differentiation rests on a substantial library of exclusive investigations and human rights documentation that is not available within Iran's state-controlled media landscape.

Iran International generates revenue through television and digital advertising and sponsorship, with all content distributed free to viewers. The go-to-market motion is community-led, leveraging satellite reach, digital platform ubiquity, and earned media generated by the channel's adversarial relationship with the Iranian state. The organization faces material operational risks from documented Iran-linked threats, including the 2024 stabbing of a journalist and a 2026 attempted arson attack on its Wembley offices, which have triggered UK National Security Act prosecutions and elevated security costs. Ownership is private with no disclosed external investors or cap table.

Name

Iran International

Legal name

Volant Media UK Limited

Website

https://iranintl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Iran International is a London-based, Persian-language multi-platform news broadcaster operated by Volant Media UK Limited, serving the global Iranian diaspora and domestic audiences with independent, government-critical news, investigative journalism, and cultural programming via satellite TV, website, YouTube, and podcasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Advertising and Sponsorship: Television and digital advertising, likely driven by audience reach and viewership metrics among Persian-speaking demographics.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Iran International is a London-based Persian-language television news broadcaster operated by Volant Media UK Limited that produces and distributes live news, political analysis, investigative reporting, and cultural programming for Iranian diaspora and domestic audiences. Content is delivered across satellite television, a multi-language website (Persian, Arabic, English), YouTube live streaming, and podcast/radio programs. The channel positions itself as an independent, dissident editorial voice critical of the Iranian government, providing coverage unavailable in Iranian state-controlled media.

Product overview

Iran International is a London-based Persian-language television channel owned by Volant Media UK Limited that provides news, analysis, and current affairs coverage. The platform operates across multiple formats including a core TV channel for live broadcasting, video on demand (VOD) programs, radio/audio content, and a multi-language website news portal. The service is available in Persian, Arabic, and English through its website and various distribution channels including satellite TV and YouTube.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Iran International TV Channel A London-based Persian-language television channel providing live news broadcasts, current affairs, political analysis, and cultural programming about Iran and the Middle East. Operated by Volant Media UK Limited and distributed via satellite TV and online streaming.
• Iran International VOD (Programs) Video on-demand library featuring original programs, documentaries, special reports, and on-demand video content in Persian, Arabic, and English.
• Iran International Radio (Podcasts) Audio content including podcasts and radio programming such as 'Cheshmandaz' (Outlook/Perspective), 'Siyasat ba Morad Visi' (Politics with Morad Visi), and 'Harf-e Akhar' (The Last Word with Pouria Zeraati), covering Iran politics, economy, and culture.
• Iran International News Portal (Website) Multi-language online news portal available in Persian, Arabic, and English featuring sections for Iran news, World news, Human Rights, National Revolution, Sports, Finance, and Special Reports. Includes live blog for breaking news coverage and real-time updates.
• Eye for Iran Podcast Podcast series covering Iran-related topics and current affairs analysis, available through the English-language section of the Iran International website.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Volant Media UK LimitedcoreOthersIran International is operated by Volant Media UK Limited, its parent company headquartered in London. The organization operates from Volant Media's facilities in west London, with approximately 200 journalists. Volant Media also owns the Arabic-language version of the channel.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Sky News Arabia: Pan-Arab 24-hour news channel with significant Iran and regional geopolitics coverage. Comparable in international news distribution, satellite and digital delivery, and Middle East audience overlap, though Arabic-primary versus Persian-primary.
• Al Jazeera Persian (Al Jazeera Mubasher / AJ Arabic): Major Qatar-backed international news network with extensive Persian/Middle East coverage via Arabic-language TV and digital platforms. Comparable in international news breadth, geopolitical coverage of Iran, and multi-language distribution, though not exclusively Persian.

Direct peers

• Voice of America Persian Service: US-government-funded Persian-language broadcaster delivering news and analysis to Iranian audiences via TV, radio, web, and social. Directly comparable in audience, language, and dissident positioning to Iran International.
• Radio Farda (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty): Radio Farda broadcasts in Persian to Iran under RFE/RL, providing news, analysis and cultural programming via radio, TV and digital. Direct peer competing for the same audience with similar funding structure (government-supported media).
• IranWire: Independent online Persian-language news platform focused on human rights, politics and investigative reporting on Iran. Comparable in editorial positioning (critical of Iranian government) and target audience, though digital-only versus multi-platform.
• Manoto TV: London-based Persian-language entertainment and news television channel targeting the Iranian diaspora. Directly comparable in platform (satellite/online), audience (Persian-speaking diaspora), and London operating base.
• BBC Persian Service: BBC's Persian-language news service broadcasts from London to Iranian audiences with independent news, analysis, and live coverage. Direct competitor to Iran International for the same diaspora and domestic Iranian audience, with similar multi-platform distribution.
• France 24 Persian: France 24's Persian-language edition provides French-state-funded news coverage to Iranian audiences. Comparable in platform mix, language, and independent/dissident editorial stance targeting Iran.
• Deutsche Welle Persian (DW): German international broadcaster's Persian-language service delivering news and analysis in Farsi via web, TV, and social. Direct peer in language, audience, and government-funded independent news positioning.

Emerging players

• Independent Persian (Radio Zamaneh): Amsterdam-based independent Persian-language news outlet covering Iran politics, culture, and human rights. Comparable in independent editorial stance and target audience, but smaller scale and web-focused rather than broadcast.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@IRANINTL
• Xx.com/iranintl
• Facebookfacebook.com/iranintl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iranintl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Iran International