Tehran – Mark Iranian Journalist Day on August 8th. This is a stern tribute to those who have shed blood for the truth. Rooted in the martialism of Mahmoud Salemi in 1998 – an Iranian reporter who was killed along with eight Iranian diplomats in Mazar y Sharif, Afghanistan, today laments a new generation of media martyrs.
During the 12-day attacks by the Israeli regime in June, the Iranian media landscape was hurt by the loss of 12 journalists and media workers, some of the more than 1,065 Iranians whose Israel was killed. These were not accidental victims. The targeted strike transformed the newsroom into a cemetery.
For decades, Israel has turned censorship into a killing strategy, assassinating journalists from Wallaa al-Jiabari in Gaza to Nima Rajabul in Iran. These killings echo a sustained campaign that erases the narrative of resistance and suppresses regime aggression, that is, voices that expose generational patterns.
The war with journalists in the Israeli regime is no secret. In 2022, Sirene Abuakure, a Palestinian correspondent, was shot with Jenin. Since October 2023, more than 120 journalists have died in Gaza, and the strike in 2025 claims life like Wafa Al-Udaini, a young reporter killed in airstrikes at his home, as Al Mayadeen recorded. From the West Bank to southern Lebanon, media workers remain targeted. Because it carries what the administration fears most: the unpleasant truth.
In line with Journalist Day, we at Tehran Times offer this special feature, weaving the stories of four Iranian media Martyrs, Ali Tahmasbi, Fatemeh Salehi, Mohammad-Moein Nazari and Masoumeh Azimi.
Quiet Revolutionary: Ali Tamasebi’s Unfinished Tea
Ali Tarmasevi, 25, was under the tile rub for three days before rescuers found their crushed body. The voice of his brother Mohammad trembles as he speaks of him: “His eyes have disappeared. His legs have been crushed. His hands have been burned. He has no idea about his mission. He just says, “I will do a simple job.” ”
Born in the Qiamdasht district of Tehran, Ali was a man of action rather than words. He poured his proceeds into charities after working at Basij News Agency, often telling his mother, “God will give it back and don’t worry.”
During the Fatemiyah ritual (a time when Shia Muslims lamented the martialism of the daughter of the prophet Muhammad Pubu), he insisted that the first tea would be served to the sick and poor.
His loyalty to the leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seiyed Ali Khamenei, was absolute. “Ali was repeated like a mantra. “The leader speaks the truth. That’s the path we follow,” recalls Mohammad. In his final message to the young Iranians, the family said, “Don’t trample on the blood of martyrs. Stand by the leader.”
Truth Educator: Fatema Salehi’s Resistance Library
When an Israeli missile attacked the IRGC Imam Hassan Mojtaba base in Alborz, a 40-year-old professor, journalist and director of the Sabonama News Platform, it compiled evidence of Israeli war crimes. Her brother Sajad describes her as “a woman whose faith is her armor.”
Salehi’s home library has earned nearly 1,000 volumes on religion, politics and the media, her brother says. Every day, she taught university courses. By night, she was flooded with social media with analysis of the brutality of the Israeli regime. “She worked past midnight during the war,” Sajad says. “She believed the media was the front line against lies.”
Her legacy transcends martialism. People who know her through Op-Eds, whether it’s a social media tribute, know how they exposed the truth that even an Israeli bomb would not silence, including her students.
Quiet Hero: The Legacy of Moine Nazari
Three days before his death, Moene Nazari called out his brother Amin: “The revolution endures through the blood of martyrs.” The 34-year-old, who worked for the Basij news agency, was crushed under the shards during a strike at the Basij command center in Tehran.
Nazari’s life reflected his words. He cleaned up the debt before his death, but his family later discovered that he had provided funds to a colleague who was struggling quietly.
“He’ll say, ‘Revolution is not a slogan, it’s a sacrifice,'” Amin shares. Nazari’s will demanded burial next to his uncle, a 2016 martial master for Syrian ISIS.
His family is filled with a sense of both pride and sadness. “We are proud to offer this martian to the Islamic Revolution,” declares Amin, emphasizing unwavering support for their cause. But their sadness and anger are also evident, as they add that “this sleazy Zionist regime must end,” as they are determined to seek justice.
Studio Sentinel: Masoumi Ajimi’s Unbroken Commitment
On June 26th, Mazuume Azimi refused to evacuate as the Israeli regime bombed Ilib’s headquarters. Her husband, Mohammad, said he is a police officer.
Martkyo’s outfits don’t suit anyone. She stood firm, a voice of truth. “He sees the war as a clash with not only the Tel Aviv regime, but with the entire NATO attackers.
Ajimi, 47, was among those targeted by the administration’s military-described strikes, called “precision guidance.” The footage showed shards of ducking glass from anchor Sahar Emami as the studio exploded. “What you hear is an invader attacking the truth,” the village declared the ultimate explosion moment.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araguchi later praised Iliv Maltilz at a press conference. For Mohammad, his wife’s legacy is immortal. “We had no children, but she was an Iranian daughter.”