Voice of America urgently reactivates Farsi service amid Israel‑Iran tensions

The US government-funded Voice of America has recalled its Persian-language staff from administrative leave, the US Agency for Global Media said on Friday.

Several dozen employees, sidelined since March under a directive from the Trump administration, were told to return to work "effective immediately" to boost Farsi programming amid the Israel–Iran crisis, according to an internal email seen by Politico.

The move comes as Iran and Israel have exchanged strikes and missile fire, prompting a surge in regional tensions.

Prior to the March cutbacks, VOA broadcast four or more hours daily in Persian, aimed at countering Iranian state media and reaching both domestic and diaspora audiences.