This was shocking to see.
A translation error by the BBC’s Persian-language service is raising new concerns about media accuracy after remarks from U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth were reportedly mistranslated during a broadcast about Iran.
The mistake briefly made it appear that the United States was targeting the Iranian people, when Hegseth had actually been referring to the Iranian regime.
Critics say the error dramatically changed the meaning of the speech and fueled fresh debate about media bias and misinformation surrounding U.S. foreign policy and President Donald Trump’s administration.
Translation Error Changes Meaning of Speech
During a broadcast aimed at Persian-speaking audiences inside Iran, BBC Persian translators replaced the English word “regime” with “mardom,” a Persian word meaning “people.”
That substitution significantly altered the message viewers heard.
Instead of understanding that American actions were directed at Iran’s ruling government, audiences were briefly led to believe the remarks targeted the Iranian population as a whole.
In his original statement, Secretary Hegseth clearly directed his comments toward the leadership of Iran.
Hegseth said the Iranian leadership that once shouted “death to America” and “death to Israel” ultimately faced devastating consequences from both nations. He added that while the conflict was never intended as a formal regime-change operation, the end result was that the ruling government did change, which he argued left the world in a better position.
However, the translated broadcast suggested the “people” were responsible for the chants, which critics say misrepresented the intent of the speech.
BBC Issues Correction
After the issue was raised publicly, the BBC acknowledged the translation mistake and issued a correction.
The network said the mistranslation occurred during live simultaneous translation, which can sometimes lead to human error.
In a statement, the BBC explained:
The BBC said the incorrect translation occurred because of human error during a live interpretation of the speech and noted that a correction was later issued to Persian-speaking audiences both on air and through social media.
The BBC Persian social media account later posted a clarification along with the original video of the speech.
Experts Say the Error Was Significant
Some language experts argue the translation error had serious consequences for how the message was interpreted.
Iran expert and Persian linguist Thamar Eilam Gindin said the substitution of one key word fundamentally changed the meaning of the remarks.
According to Gindin, replacing “regime” with “people” could make it appear that American officials were criticizing or targeting all Iranians, rather than addressing the country’s governing leadership.
Gindin also noted that some members of the Iranian diaspora have long questioned whether BBC Persian coverage tends to favor the Iranian government.
For those critics, the translation mistake may reinforce existing concerns about the network’s editorial direction.
Controversy Comes Amid Trump Lawsuit Against BBC
The translation controversy comes at a time when President Donald Trump is already involved in a major legal battle with the British broadcaster.
Trump has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC, alleging defamation and deceptive practices tied to a 2024 Panorama documentary about his speech on January 6, 2021.
Critics of the documentary argue that it created a misleading narrative by excluding Trump’s call for supporters to “peacefully and patriotically” protest.
Trump’s legal team claims the editing decisions damaged the president’s reputation and unfairly influenced public opinion.
A spokesperson for Trump’s attorneys said:
“According to Trump’s legal team, the BBC defamed the president by deliberately and misleadingly editing its documentary in an attempt to influence the presidential election. They added that President Trump intends to continue holding media organizations accountable when they spread what he considers false or deceptive information.”
Legal Battle Continues
While several U.S. networks, including ABC and CBS, have settled separate legal disputes with Trump over the past year, the BBC has indicated it intends to fight the lawsuit.
Both sides have agreed to use mediator John W. Thornton to explore whether the dispute can be resolved before going to trial.
For many media observers, the translation controversy is another reminder of how small errors in reporting or translation can dramatically change the meaning of political statements—especially in today’s fast-moving global media environment.
And as debates over media credibility continue, incidents like this are likely to keep fueling discussion about accuracy, bias, and accountability in modern journalism.
