How to (NOT) write about Iran: A guide for journalists, analysts, and policymakers. Whether you are working from your DC office or your home in LA or New York, here’s all you need to know to become an expert on Iran.
Brilliant guide by @LadaneNasseri https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/how-to-write-about-iran-a-guide-for-journalists-analysts-and-policymakers

Never refer to Iran’s foreign policy. The correct terminology is its behavior. When US officials say Iran must change its behavior & behave like a normal country, write those quotes down word for word. Iran is a delinquent kid that always instigates trouble & must be disciplined.

3. Omit that Iran has a population of 80 million with half a dozen ethnicities, languages, and religions. Why complicate when you can do simple? Just write “Iranians” or “the Iranians.” They are all the same and consequently think alike – when they get to think, that is.

Go off the beaten track for book titles. Hidden Iran or Uncovering Iran, Behind the Veil or Lifting the Veil, Furious Turbans or Rage Against the Veil. Insert words like “Revolutionary,” “Danger,” “Allah,” “Jihad,” “Atomic,” and “Terrorist” as they capture the essence of Iran.

Always remind readers that Iran is a dangerous country, more dangerous than any country in the Middle East. Underline at any chance that it poses an imminent threat to the future of the entire world and more particularly to the US and Israel, both of which have nuclear weapons.

Unlike the US which wants the best for all the people in the world, Iran wants the worst for the entire universe itself included... Avoid using terms like moderate, centrist, or reformist since all politicians in Iran are wolves, even if some occasionally appear dressed as sheep.

NOTE: This piece is a *satirical* look at everything that is wrong about covering Iran by veteran journalist @LadaneNasseri who has covered Iran for years with nuance and objectivity.