The oldest running Persian daily newspaper in the world has a volatile history

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded in 1926, Ettela'at has evolved from a modest four-page weekly into a state-sponsored publication of record in Tehran. Its journey mirrors the turbulent political shifts of Iran, from the reign of the Shah to the 1979 Revolution, leaving a legacy that includes both Pulitzer-winning photography and controversial political influence.

Established by Abbas Massoudi in 1926, Ettela'at began as a small operation selling approximately 2,000 copies per week. By the time of Reza Shah's reign, its circulation had grown to 15,000 copies, and the paper expanded to eight pages at the onset of World War II. Throughout the mid-twentieth century, the publication maintained a conservative stance and held close ties to the Pahlavi monarchy; Massoudi himself served as vice president of the Iranian Senate in the late 1960s.

The newspaper's role in national history became explosive in January 1978, when it published an article attacking Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, labeling him a British agent and questioning his moral character. The resulting protests in Qom led to a violent crackdown by police, resulting in at least twenty deaths. This event served as a critical catalyst for the 1979 Iranian Revolution. By October 1978, the paper faced censorship during the escalating clashes between imperial forces and revolutionaries.

Following the revolution, the newspaper underwent a fundamental transformation, becoming a state-sponsored entity where the publisher is directly appointed by the Supreme Leader. Despite this shift, it remained a central voice in Iranian media. In 1979, the paper published a harrowing image of Kurdish militants facing a firing squad. This photograph, which later won the 1980 Pulitzer Prize, was initially attributed to an anonymous source until it was revealed in 2006 to be the work of photographer Jahangir Razmi.

Today, Ettela'at remains a significant institution in Tehran, continuing its long-standing tradition of covering political, cultural, social, and economic news. Its evolution from a private venture under Massoudi to its current status as a state-aligned publication illustrates the profound changes in the Iranian media landscape over the last century.

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