December 20, 2012 – New York – AJC applauded Hispasat, the Spanish communication satellites group, for deciding to terminate the broadcasting of two Iranian television channels, Hispan TV and Press TV. Transmission of the Iranian channels is expected to end on December 21.

“This is an important development in the worldwide effort to contain the defiant regime in Tehran, one we have been watching carefully for months and discussing with our friends in Spain,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris. “Hispasat did the right thing,” Harris continued. “No satellite company in the Western world should enable the dissemination of propaganda from an Iranian government that denies human rights, supports terror organizations and is determined to achieve nuclear weapons capability. That Hispasat’s action triggered such an angry response in Tehran tells us all we need to know about its significance.”

Hispan TV, operated by IRIB, Iran’s state-owned broadcasting authority, was officially launched by Iranian President Ahmadinejad with great fanfare in January. The first Spanish-language TV station airing from the Middle East, Hispan TV has targeted audiences in Spain and throughout Latin America. Press TV is the daily English-language Iranian channel. The company’s welcome decision to ban the Iranian TV channels follows similar action by Eutelsaat, the European satellite provider that is one of Hispasat’s owners.