February 21, 2025
The Islamic Republic is overjoyed with Elon Musk taking a scythe to US government programs because he is using his authority to shut down funds for Radio Farda and the Voice of America. In a post on X, Musk said it was a waste of money to continue supporting Radio Free Europe, which operates Radio Farda, and the Voice of America. “Nobody listens to them anymore,” Musk wrote.
“It’s just radical crazy people talking to themselves while torching $1B/year of US taxpayer money.” That’s a reference to the broadcasting budget for VOA’s 48 languages and RFE’s 27. The tweet was widely shared in Iranian government affiliated media and received laudatory comments from establishment supporters on X.
The closure of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) also had the effect of halting US programs that for years have provided training for Iranian dissidents who seek to know how they can most effectively voice their opposition as well as underwriting the use of some virtual private networks (VPNs) in Iran. However, days after that funding was closed off for 90 days, the White House signed an order unfreezing the funds for the Iran program and similar programs in other countries.
The budget for the Middle East this year is $65 million. Estimates on the viewership for broadcasters show that Iran International is by far the most popular broadcaster in Iran with Radio Farda and VOA trailing.
A 2023 survey by the Netherlands-based Gamaan Institute collected information from 38,445 people inside Iran about their viewership of broadcast media. Iran International led the pack with 54% saying they “often” or “sometimes” followed that media outlet. Manoto TV garnered 42%, BBC Persian 37%, state broadcaster IRIB 36%, and Voice of America Persian 34%.