Iranian State Broadcaster PressTV, Designated By U.S. Treasury And Sanctioned By Office Of Foreign Asset Control, Films At Anti-Israel Protest Directly In Front Of White House, Possibly For Intelligence Value, Interviews Leader Of Neo-Nazi Anti-Government Group

On October 28, 2023, a neo-Nazi organization was involved in an anti-Israel demonstration in front of the White House. During the demonstration, members of the group were interviewed by Colin Campbell, a journalist from PressTV, an Iranian state broadcaster sanctioned and designated by the Department of the Treasury and the Office of Foreign Asset Control.[1]

The following report outlines PressTV's designation and sanctioning by the United States government, and their recent reporting outside the White House.

PressTV Sanctioned And Designated By U.S. Treasury

PressTV were listed and sanctioned in September 2023, as a direct result of their involvement in repression in advance of the anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, who was killed in 2022 for her involvement in the anti-Hijab movement. The broadcaster is listed on the Department of the Treasury's website as being "the English language channel for the state broadcaster of the Iranian government, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting." The channel's entry on the site also notes that PressTV "has also been used be Iranian intelligence services to recruit sensitive assets, including U.S. persons." The channel was designated pursuant to Executive Order 13846 "for being owned or controlled by, directly or indirectly, the IRIB."[2]

These sanctions prohibit the operation of PressTV in the United States, stating that "all property and interests in property of the individuals and entities that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC." OFAC's sanctions also prohibit any U.S. person from dealing with the sanctioned entity.

PressTV Correspondent Colin Campbell Films Outside White House

Colin Campbell has been covering U.S. politics and society from Washington D.C. since 2008, and is listed on the PressTV website as a multimedia correspondent.[3] On October 28, he attended a small anti-Israel protest outside the White House, filming and conducting interviews. Among his interviewees was the leader of a prominent U.S.-based white supremacist and antigovernment group, who spoke at length with Mr. Campbell about his opposition to Israel and his belief that Jewish interests dominated U.S. society. The White House can be clearly seen in the background of the video.

Correspondent Colin Campbell Conducting An Interview At An Anti-Israel Rally Outside The White House.

Footage of the demonstration was posted on the PressTV website, and sections of Campbell's interview with the white supremacist leader were posted on the group's Telegram page.[4]