AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): On Thursday, May 29, 2025, Hossein Entezami, Deputy Minister for Management Development and Resources at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, visited the editorial office of the International ABNA News Agency to get acquainted with the agency’s activities.
During this visit, the Deputy Minister was accompanied by Hojat al-Islam Meysam Gholami, Head of the Cyberspace Research Institute and a member of ABNA’s Policy Council, as well as Mohammadreza Soghandi, Director General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Qom Province.
While visiting, Entezami addressed ABNA’s journalists, emphasizing the mission of the media in the current circumstances and the critical importance of engaging with cutting-edge technologies and artificial intelligence in the media landscape.
Highlighting the value of working at ABNA, Dr. Hossein Entezami told the agency’s journalists, “Your work is of immense value, as you directly promote the name of the AhlulBayt (a.s.), and every moment of your work is accompanied by divine reward.”
He went on to say, “My familiarity with ABNA News Agency dates back to my tenure as Deputy Minister for Press Affairs at the Ministry of Culture. At that time, the agency’s presence at press exhibitions was prominently distinguished from other news outlets.”
Outlining the unique characteristics of ABNA compared to other agencies, he stated, “These differences have contributed to its prominence. Although such distinctiveness brings with it certain challenges, the thirst of the audience to follow ABNA’s content remains high. The agency’s multilingual approach and its commitment to disseminating religious teachings are among its defining features.”
Emphasizing the need to move toward the adoption of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, the Deputy Minister of Culture stated, “Among all sectors, the media has been more impacted by artificial intelligence than any other. At ABNA News Agency, you must harness the full potential of AI. As a media outlet active on the international stage and committed to spreading Islamic teachings, you operate in a highly competitive environment and must master the tools of artificial intelligence.”
He further noted, “Speaking as a media activist, I can say that the media space is increasingly shifting toward freelance journalism. ABNA can benefit from this shift by engaging freelancers and directing the media narrative through them. Other sectors within the media may not be able to capitalize on this capacity as effectively as ABNA can.”
“The progress of ABNA News Agency in the past two years is commendable,” the Deputy Minister added, affirming the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance’s intention to strengthen its ties with the agency.
“Mohammadreza Soghandi, the newly appointed Director General of the Ministry’s office in Qom Province, is one of the finest managers in the Ministry. He brings with him a wealth of experience, has a deep understanding of the media, and can greatly contribute to ABNA’s growth and in building wider networks of cooperation,” he stated.
Hojat al-Islam Meysam Gholami, Head of the Cyberspace Research Institute, also delivered remarks during the visit. He stated, “ABNA’s mission is to build a communication bridge between Iran and the world based on the teachings of the AhlulBayt (a.s.), and the agency continues to operate in full alignment with this mission. ABNA connects hearts and souls across borders.”
The head of the Cyberspace Research Institute added, “ABNA is actively shaping religious discourse. Many individuals, even those who are not part of its official team of journalists, regularly submit news and images to the agency for publication. Every time I visit ABNA, I feel pleased by the meaningful work being done here.”
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