The supreme leader's representative to the Revolutionary Guard Corps is the latest official to comment on criticism by media connected to the Iranian armed forces against the administration of President Hassan Rouhani.

“Whether we want it or not, there are news agencies connected to the Revolutionary Guard,” said Ali Saeedi, representative of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on June 10. “From media such as the Fars News Agency, there are expectations that they observe the required comprehensiveness. Of course, they work with trust and integrity, but it’s possible that sometimes news is published that has [consequences].”

Saeedi’s comments came when a reporter from Iranian Students’ News Agency asked for his reaction to comments by the chief of staff of the armed forces, Maj. Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi. Firouzabadi had said May 20, “Media that are in some way connected to the armed forces make mistakes. They do not operate with the policies and aims of the supreme leader. They have to reform their ways. Otherwise, we will confront them.”

Firouzabadi’s comments had two aspects, according to Saeedi. One of them concerned criticism by the media, which even Rouhani has welcomed. The other addressed the media publishing things “without accuracy.” He said that Firouzabadi’s comments were directed at the latter, and added that media organizations "should act in such a way that the administration feels the media have sympathy."