The Jerusalem Post · Iran · 24 Aug 2026

Passive voice hides who attacked, the headline editorialises, and Iran's government is delegitimised as 'the regime'.

/ 10 · article score

scored on 4 of 11 measures · thin coverage

The double standard

Iran's intentions are attributed to named hostile sources and labelled with regime terminology, while US and allied actions are described in neutral, procedural language with no equivalent scrutiny of their role in escalation.

How it builds, in Tehran considering attacking US bases passage

Iran labelled 'regime'; conditional agency foregrounded
Sources close to the regime in Tehran warned that Iran may attack US military targets in Europe if US President Donald Trump escalated the conflict.
Hostile framing: 'regime' used; threat presented as Iran's initiative
US escalation buried in subordinate clause
if US President Donald Trump escalated the conflict
US role in escalation grammatically subordinated, not headlined
'Regime' repeated; Iran cast as aggressor planning war
The Financial Times reported that Tehran was seriously examining the options available to it to raise the stakes in the conflict, with many at the top of the regime seeing the renewal of the full-scale military confrontation as only a matter of time
Adversarial framing: 'regime' twice, Iran portrayed as driving confrontation
Iranian military planning stated as near-fact
Two sources familiar with the details told the Financial Times that Iranian forces already conducted situational assessments regarding the possibility of attacking American assets in southeastern European countries.
Iran's contingency planning presented as concrete, active preparation
Greek/US response framed as purely defensive
Greece has moved a Patriot air defense battery to Crete following threats by senior Iranian officials against US bases in Europe
Allied military movement described in neutral, protective language with no hostile framing
US and Israel named as partners, not scrutinised
Kathimerini added that Athens is in contact with the US and Israel over potential threats to military bases in Greece and Cyprus.
US and Israeli roles described without qualification or critical framing
'Renewed American attack' acknowledged only at article's end
Cyprus, where a British air base was attacked by a drone last March, is also on the list of potential targets for retaliatory action in the event of a renewed American attack
US offensive action acknowledged only in passing, deep in the article, as a conditional

The same decision, both sides

Terminology used to describe the governing authority

Iran's government is repeatedly called 'the regime', a term carrying delegitimising connotations.

Sources close to the regime in Tehran warned that Iran may attack US military targets in Europe

The US government and its allies are referred to by neutral institutional names throughout.

Kathimerini added that Athens is in contact with the US and Israel over potential threats to military bases in Greece and Cyprus.

Whether military planning is framed as aggression or defence

Iran's contingency assessments are framed as active, threatening preparations for attack.

Iranian forces already conducted situational assessments regarding the possibility of attacking American assets in southeastern European countries.

Allied military repositioning is framed as a purely defensive, protective response.

Greece has moved a Patriot air defense battery to Crete following threats by senior Iranian officials against US bases in Europe

Placement and grammatical weight given to each side's role in escalation

Iran's potential attacks are placed in main clauses and section headings, giving them maximum prominence.

Tehran considering attacking US bases in Europe if conflict escalates

US escalatory action is buried in a subordinate conditional clause near the end of the article.

in the event of a renewed American attack

What a reader is left with. A reader is left with the clear impression that Iran is the sole aggressor actively planning violence, while the US and its allies are passive, defensive parties, with the US's own potential role in renewing conflict mentioned only fleetingly and without equivalent scrutiny.

File a complaint

This article can be challenged with The Jerusalem Post's editorial-standards team.

Amend the headline to include a main verb that accurately reflects the reported threat and names the relevant actor, for example: 'Greece deploys Patriot interceptor after reports Iran is assessing attacks on US bases in Europe.'
Replace or gloss the phrase 'the regime in Tehran' with neutral governmental language, such as 'the Iranian government' or 'Iranian authorities,' consistent with the terminology applied to all other states named in the article.

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Aggressor framingHeadline analysisRegime terminology

Greece moves Patriot interceptor to protect key military base amid rising US-Iran tensions - report

Greece has moved a Patriot air defense battery to Crete following threats by senior Iranian officials against US bases in Europe, Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported on Sunday.The battery, personnel and equptment were moved overnight and are expected to be deployed near the Souda military base. Greece's Defense Ministry and armed forces remain on heightened alert as officials assess the potential threat to critical infrastructure and military facilities as tensions rise with Iran, Kathimerini added.The report explained that allied intelligence was concerned that Iran still has a significant number of ballistic missiles, with a reported range of over 2,000 km which would place parts of southeastern Europe, including Greece, within range.The Patriot defense system was deployed in March to protect against ballistic missile threats. Kathimerini added that Athens is in contact with the US and Israel over potential threats to military bases in Greece and Cyprus.Tehran considering attacking US bases in Europe if conflict escalatesSources close to the regime in Tehran warned that Iran may attack US military targets in Europe if US President Donald Trump escalated the conflict.The Financial Times reported that Tehran was seriously examining the options available to it to raise the stakes in the conflict, with many at the top of the regime seeing the renewal of the full-scale military confrontation as only a matter of timeTwo sources familiar with the details told the Financial Times that Iranian forces already conducted situational assessments regarding the possibility of attacking American assets in southeastern European countries.A prominent example of this is Bulgaria, which only last month approved the use of the Bessemer air base for US military refueling aircraft. Another source added that Cyprus, where a British air base was attacked by a drone last March, is also on the list of potential targets for retaliatory action in the event of a renewed American attack

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