The country’s judiciary announced that it had launched an investigation into the channel following the broadcast of an episode it accused of containing false information, according to Mizan Online, the judiciary’s news outlet.
Authorities also classified Azad as an “unauthorised media outlet”, arguing that it had been operating without an official licence from Iran’s Culture Ministry, which is responsible for regulating media activities.
A judicial order has reportedly barred the programme’s director and presenter, Mehdi Ahmadi, from carrying out media activities until the required licence is obtained. The judiciary also accused the channel of committing several violations of media regulations.
Ahmadi confirmed that he had been charged with disseminating false information and summoned to the prosecutor’s office to answer the allegations.
He said he was later released on bail, but that the Azad channel had been prohibited from broadcasting interviews until further notice.
With nearly 160,000 subscribers, Azad has hosted debates on a wide range of topics, including the Iran-US conflict, the economy, sexual violence, philosophy and other social issues.
The programme has also featured guests from across Iran’s political spectrum, including opposition figures based outside the country who have openly criticised the policies of the Islamic Republic.
The action against the channel came days after a New York Times report described Azad as a programme that tackled subjects considered to push the boundaries of Iran’s authoritarian political system.
Iran has historically maintained strict controls over media operations, requiring journalists and media organisations to obtain government authorisation and licences.
YouTube and several other social media platforms have also been blocked in Iran for years, forcing many users to rely on virtual private networks to access them.
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