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Press freedom in Iran improves slightly under Rouhani

While Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index continues to give Iran a dismal rating, and Iran’s press is nowhere close to free, many journalists believe that conditions have improved somewhat under President Hassan Rouhani.
EDITORS' NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on leaving the office to report, film or take pictures in Tehran.
A man looks at newspapers at a news stand in Tehran March 4, 2012. Hardliners allied with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei maintained their lead in the country's parliamentary vote, with partial results on Sunday showing supporters of the president trailing behind. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi  (IRAN - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) - RTR2YTIX

TEHRAN, Iran — In the 2014 Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index, Iran ranked one place higher compared to 2013. Apparently, this change comes not as a result of any actual improvements but because one country was added to the list since last year. On the whole, 180 countries were assessed. 

Vietnam, China, Somalia, Syria, Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea were the seven countries that prevented Iran from being placed in the bottom of the chart.

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