Fars News Agency

FARS, also known as Fars News Agency, is an Iranian state-linked news organization headquartered in Iran. It operates as a news agency that gathers, produces, and distributes news content across multiple platforms. Its core services include written reports, photographs, video footage, and social media updates covering domestic and international events. The agency provides news to a variety of outlets, including other media organizations, government bodies, and the general public. Through its online portal and social media accounts, FARS disseminates information in Persian and occasionally in other languages. Its role is to deliver timely coverage of political, economic, cultural, and social developments within Iran and beyond.

As a state-linked entity, FARS occupies a distinctive position in Iran's media landscape, often reflecting official perspectives while also reporting on broader societal issues. The agency gained international attention in November 2022 when a hacktivist group compromised its systems, claiming to have stolen and deleted extensive data, including confidential communications and media archives. During the breach, the attackers leaked alleged security footage and used the agency's own social media channels to spread the material, citing motivations tied to anti-government protests and social justice causes. FARS acknowledged only limited destruction of recent information, disputing the attackers' claims of near-total data loss. This incident highlighted the agency's visibility and the vulnerabilities faced by state-affiliated media organizations during periods of domestic unrest. While specific metrics on staff size or audience reach are not disclosed in the available sources, the event underscores FARS's significance as a conduit for information within Iran's media ecosystem.