Iran state TV accuses BBC of hacking website

AP: Iran’s state TV charged Wednesday that the BBC hacked its website to change the results of a poll about Iran’s nuclear program. The BBC denied the allegation.

The Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s state TV charged Wednesday that the BBC hacked its website to change the results of a poll about Iran’s nuclear program. The BBC denied the allegation.

The West suspects Iran may be aiming to produce nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes like energy production.

The British broadcaster’s Farsi language service reported that the poll showed 63 percent of those who took part favored halting uranium enrichment in exchange for an end to Western economic sanctions.

The TV report Wednesday said the actual figure was 24 percent, and the rest favored retaliation against the West with measures like closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key to exporting oil from the Gulf.

In a statement, the BBC said the claims were “both ludicrous and completely false, and the BBC Persian Service stands by its reporting.”

“There is a significant audience within Iran which depends on BBC Persian to provide impartial and trusted news, and we are confident they are familiar with the state media’s tactics,” it said.

The poll was taken off Iran TV’s website on Tuesday.