Western News Agencies Mistranslate Iran's President Speech - It Is Not The First Time Such 'Error' Happens

Moon of Alabama
Jun. 27, 2019

Yesterday the news agencies Associated Press and Reuters mistranslated a speech by Iran's President Hassan Rouhani. They made it sound as if Rouhani insulted U.S. President Donald Trump as 'mentally retarded'. Rouhani never said that.

[...] Farsi speakers pointed out that the Rouhani never used the Farsi word for "retarded":

A lot of Western media is reporting that Iranian President Rouhani called Trump "mentally retarded." This is inaccurate.

Regarding Trump, he just said "no wise person would take such an action [the new sanctions imposed]." https://t.co/NNodXGCM1Z
— Sina Toossi (@SinaToossi) June 25, 2019

Absolutely incorrect. There is a word for "retarded" in Persian & Rouhani didn't use it. Prior to him saying "mental disability" he even prefaced his comment by saying "mental weakness." Those who speak Persian can listen & judge for themselves. https://t.co/NqdzKeenpA #Iran
— Reza H. Akbari (@rezahakbari) June 25, 2019