nternational’s False Narrative on the “Sarcheshmeh Assault” Case + Rokna’s Review and Details + Video

According to Rokna’s correspondent, in recent days a video circulated on social media under the title “gang rape in Sarcheshmeh, Tehran.” However, official reports by Rokna and judicial findings clarified the actual dimensions of the case, proving that contrary to the claims of exile media, including Iran International, there was no issue of rape involved.

Based on Rokna’s investigations and case documents, four teenagers gathered in a hangout and engaged in immoral behavior while filming mischievous acts. The woman appearing in the video was not a victim of rape, but an individual who was present of her own will and in exchange for payment. Nevertheless, due to the criminal nature of the conduct, police and judicial authorities intervened, leading to the arrest of one suspect. The Tehran Criminal Court, after examination, issued an acquittal from the charge of rape and closed that part of the case, though judicial follow-up on other charges remains ongoing.

In its report, Rokna deliberately refrained from mentioning that the woman involved was not Iranian, in order to uphold ethical standards and safeguard the dignity of foreign nationals. This professional silence was a sign of adherence to journalistic principles and media ethics, not an attempt to conceal the truth.

By contrast, Iran International, without considering the content of the video, without access to official sources, and even without a basic understanding of the details, raised baseless claims purely for political manipulation and to incite public opinion. Strikingly, the video clearly shows the individuals involved are teenagers rather than adult men — an observation evident even to the most casual viewer, but deliberately or ignorantly ignored by that outlet.

Rokna stresses that reporting on sensitive social and moral issues requires, above all, adherence to professional standards and journalistic ethics. Iran International, however, has repeatedly demonstrated that its sole objective is to exploit domestic events in Iran for political purposes — just as it revealed its true face to the Iranian nation during the twelve-day war.

The case of the teenagers involved remains under review in the General Court on charges of criminal behavior, and legal rulings will undoubtedly be issued against them.

Rokna calls on media outlets that claim to be “defenders of truth” to first seek reality from reliable sources with accuracy and professional responsibility before engaging in political sensationalism that sacrifices public opinion for their own agendas.