Iran
Date Range
Score Range
The Guardian (Effective / Failing) : The Guardian view on Iran’s repression: political prisoners such as Narges Mohammadi need freedom not …
Regime portrayed as fundamentally failing and repressive
Loaded language such as 'brutal crackdown' and 'vicious regime' frames Iran as a failing state with no legitimacy.
“The government’s brutal crackdown on protests killed thousands of Iranians in January.”
The Guardian (Safe / Threatened) : The Guardian view on Iran’s repression: political prisoners such as Narges Mohammadi need freedom not …
Iranians portrayed as under dual threat from internal repression and external attack
Framing by emphasis combines internal crackdown with external strikes to depict population as endangered, though internal repression is not contested.
“UN experts have warned that the conflict dramatically worsened the human rights situation, describing Iranians as “under attack from outside and from within”.”
The New York Times (Safe / Threatened) : For Trump, the Iran War Looms Over China Summit
Iran framed as militarily threatened and under attack, but not as a victim deserving protection
[selective_coverage], [omission] - Mentions war began with US-Israeli bombardment and leadership decapitation, but omits humanitarian toll; framing focuses on geopolitical consequences, not Iranian suffering
“The balance of power between the United States and China had shifted in Beijing’s favor even before the U.S.-Israeli bombardment of Iran began on Feb. 28.”
The Washington Post (Ally / Adversary) : Senate to confirm new Fed chair as Trump allies warn rate cuts may be out …
framed as an adversary whose war is contributing to global economic instability
Iran is referenced not for diplomatic or security reasons but as a source of inflationary pressure, indirectly framing it as a destabilizing geopolitical force.
“pushed higher by rising energy costs tied to the war in Iran.”
The Washington Post (Ally / Adversary) : Senate rejects bill to halt Iran war despite lawmakers’ growing frustrations
Iran framed as an adversary and hostile actor
The article includes Trump's unchallenged characterization of Iran's peace proposal as 'garbage' and the ceasefire as 'unbelievably weak,' presenting Iran as unreasonable and hostile without counterbalancing context or critique of U.S. actions. This normalizes adversarial framing.
“Trump said of the ceasefire, calling Iran’s latest peace proposal “garbage.””
Daily Mail (Trustworthy / Corrupt) : Pope infuriates Iranians and risks reigniting Trump row by awarding top Vatican honour to Tehran …
framed as a morally corrupt and illegitimate regime
loaded_language, appeal_to_emotion
“To decorate the representative of a terrorist regime responsible for massacres, executions, torture, hostage-taking, religious persecution and the oppression of Iranians is not interfaith dialogue, it is moral blindness”
Daily Mail (Ally / Adversary) : Pope infuriates Iranians and risks reigniting Trump row by awarding top Vatican honour to Tehran …
framed as a hostile, adversarial regime
loaded_language, framing_by_emphasis
“months after the Islamic Republic massacred innocent protesters”
The Guardian (Ally / Adversary) : At 10.15pm, do you know where Donald Trump is?
Iran framed as hostile adversary, justifying aggressive US posture
[selective_coverage], [omission]
“On Easter, he directed ire to Iran, telling them to “open the fucking strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in hell,” tacking on “praise be to Allah”.”
Reuters (Ally / Adversary) : Exclusive: Saudi warplanes struck militias in Iraq during war, sources say
Iran framed as a destabilizing adversary through its proxy network in Iraq
[comprehensive_sourcing] consistently links Iran to militia attacks and positions its proxies as the root cause of regional escalation, reinforcing adversarial framing
“Militia-linked Telegram channels repeatedly posted statements during the war claiming attacks on targets in Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.”
RTÉ (Ally / Adversary) : Iran says Hormuz control to bring significant revenues
Portrayed as a hostile geopolitical actor leveraging strategic chokepoint for power
Framing by emphasis and cherry-picking state sources to present Iran's control of Hormuz as aggressive leverage without critical examination of legality or humanitarian impact
“"Iran's grip over the waterway has rattled global markets and given Tehran significant leverage"”