An Iranian television translator defended himself Wednesday after being widely criticised for soft - balling US President Donald Trump ’s attacks on Iran in his maiden speech to the UN General Assembly .
A translator for state broadcaster IRIB , Nima Chitsaz, said he had decided in the heat of the moment to spare his Persian - speaking viewers from the verbal attacks by the US president .
“ I don ’t think it would be nice for me to speak on national TV against my own country , ” he later told IRINN television .
As a result, when Trump accused Iran of being a “depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence , bloodshed and chaos,” Chitsaz’s Persian translation was simply : “ Iran speaks of destroying Israel. ”
Trump later told the UN assembly : “ Other than the vast military power of the United States… Iran’s people are what their leaders fear the most . ” Which was translated for Iranian viewers as: “ The US Army is a very strong army and the Iranian nation is a very strong nation .”
“ This is what causes the regime to restrict internet access , tear down satellite dishes , shoot unarmed student protesters , and imprison political reformers ” was relayed as: “ Many incidents happen in Iran which are unacceptable to us.”
Chitsaz was slammed on social media, with one reformist politician accusing him of “ censoring and distorting ” the speech .
Even the semi - official ISNA news agency said it would further erode trust in the Iranian media, and push viewers to use exiled Persian channels instead.
“ Are you paid to translate or to translate whenever you see fit ?” wrote one of many mocking Twitter users.
“ You should have translated Trump ’ s nonsense so that people could better judge this stupid person, ” argued another .
Chitsaz responded by saying that the English had been left loud enough for people to translate for themselves .
“ I think anybody else in my place would not have translated it ,” he said .
A translator for state broadcaster IRIB , Nima Chitsaz, said he had decided in the heat of the moment to spare his Persian - speaking viewers from the verbal attacks by the US president .
“ I don ’t think it would be nice for me to speak on national TV against my own country , ” he later told IRINN television .
As a result, when Trump accused Iran of being a “depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence , bloodshed and chaos,” Chitsaz’s Persian translation was simply : “ Iran speaks of destroying Israel. ”
Trump later told the UN assembly : “ Other than the vast military power of the United States… Iran’s people are what their leaders fear the most . ” Which was translated for Iranian viewers as: “ The US Army is a very strong army and the Iranian nation is a very strong nation .”
“ This is what causes the regime to restrict internet access , tear down satellite dishes , shoot unarmed student protesters , and imprison political reformers ” was relayed as: “ Many incidents happen in Iran which are unacceptable to us.”
Chitsaz was slammed on social media, with one reformist politician accusing him of “ censoring and distorting ” the speech .
Even the semi - official ISNA news agency said it would further erode trust in the Iranian media, and push viewers to use exiled Persian channels instead.
“ Are you paid to translate or to translate whenever you see fit ?” wrote one of many mocking Twitter users.
“ You should have translated Trump ’ s nonsense so that people could better judge this stupid person, ” argued another .
Chitsaz responded by saying that the English had been left loud enough for people to translate for themselves .
“ I think anybody else in my place would not have translated it ,” he said .
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