Feridoun Verdinejad

Feridoun Verdinejad served as editor of Kayhan newspaper — Iran's leading hardline daily — and as head of IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency), two roles that place him at the centre of state-controlled media. He subsequently served as Iran's Ambassador to China from 2004 to 2009. Opposition sources allege an intelligence background tied to MOIS and/or the IRGC Intelligence Organisation; this connection has not been confirmed by official documentation.