NDTV Senior Editor Calls Iran a Terrorist Regime in Tweet on Israel Strikes, Later Deletes Post After Backlash

NDTV Senior Editor Calls Iran a Terrorist Regime: A tweet by Aditya Raj Kaul, a Senior Editor with NDTV, has triggered criticism and debate over journalistic neutrality after he described the government of Iran as a terrorist regime in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The post appeared amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, as reports emerged of Israeli strikes targeting infrastructure inside Iranian territory.

In the now-deleted tweet, Kaul wrote:

“#BREAKING: The Israeli army has launched a massive wave of attacks against the infrastructure of the Iranian terrorist regime across Iran.”

The tweet quickly drew criticism from political figures, journalists and social media users who argued that the language used by a senior editor of a major Indian news organisation crossed the line between reporting and political advocacy.

The post was later deleted from Kaul’s account, though screenshots of it continued to circulate widely on social media, fuelling debate about professional standards in journalism and the growing role of social media in shaping news narratives.

In war reporting in particular, journalists are expected to maintain a degree of distance from the narratives advanced by combatant states. For instance, a report might state that Israel described Iran as a terrorist regime, rather than presenting the characterisation as a factual description.

Critics argue that failing to observe this distinction risks undermining the credibility of the profession and blurring the line between reporting and commentary.

The issue also carries diplomatic sensitivities. India maintains working diplomatic relations with Iran while simultaneously deepening strategic and defence cooperation with Israel. Analysts say commentary from prominent Indian journalists during such conflicts can have broader geopolitical implications, particularly when it appears to echo the narrative of one party in the conflict. Responding to the tweet, Salman Anees Soz criticised the language used by the NDTV editor.

“It is shocking that a senior editor of a major Indian news organisation is describing the government of a country with which India has diplomatic relations as a ‘terrorist regime’. Journalists are expected to report, not act as spokespersons for one side in a war,” Soz wrote on X.

His remarks were widely shared on the platform and added to the growing criticism surrounding the tweet.

Several social media users also condemned the language used in the post and questioned the standards of reporting expected from senior journalists.

One widely circulated post read:

“This is not journalism. This is propaganda. A senior editor of a mainstream news organisation parroting the narrative of one side in a war undermines the credibility of the profession.”

Another user wrote:

“Calling the government of a country with which India has diplomatic relations a ‘terrorist regime’ is not reporting — it is advocacy.”

These reactions reflect broader concerns about the blurring of lines between reporting and commentary on social media, particularly when journalists occupying influential editorial positions post opinions that appear to align with one side in an ongoing conflict.

Media ethicists have increasingly warned that while journalists may use social media in a personal capacity, their posts continue to carry the weight of their professional roles and affiliations.

In light of the controversy, Karvaan India has written to the Embassy of Iran in India as well as the Ministry of External Affairs seeking an official response to the remarks and the wider narrative surrounding the ongoing Israel–Iran conflict.

The publication will update this story once responses are received from the Iranian embassy.

The episode has once again brought attention to the responsibilities of journalists reporting on conflicts, and the importance of maintaining professional distance, accuracy and neutrality in public communication, particularly during times of war.