Owen Smith: Corbyn cannot 'justify' taking money from Iranian network Press TV
In an interview with LGBT network PinkNews on Thursday, Smith claimed he had not received money from a source other than his MP salary and suggested Corbyn should give the money back to the state-funded network.
In July, Business Insider exposed how Corbyn had received up to £20,000 (about $27,000) to make several appearances on Press TV between the 2009 and 2012.
"I wouldn't have done it [appear on Press TV]," Smith told PinkNews. "I don't think Jeremy has done enough to justify that, to be perfectly honest. I've not taken any money from any other source other than my Parliamentary salary in the six years I've been an MP."
He added: "I think that's appropriate because I think we get paid enough for doing our jobs and I don't think we need to get paid extra money for doing journalism. I've written articles and appeared on television programmes such as I'm doing right now.
"I'm not asking for payment for this, I'm not asking for payment for anything else - so I don't know why Jeremy felt he should take any money for any of those appearances.
"He could always give the money back, couldn't he?"
Press TV is the main arm of Iran's tightly controlled broadcasting machinery. Its director is appointed by the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader, which means its output is usually biased in favour of the religious establishment's strict conservative ideology.
Business Insider revealed how Corbyn, who was a rebellious backbencher with a much lower public profile at the time, registered his final payment six months after the network's UK's license was revoked by Ofcom for airing a forced confession by Newsweek journalist Maziar Bahari.
Bahari was covering the 2009 post-election protests as a CNN journalist when he was arrested, confined in a notorious military prison, tortured, and forced to read a pre-agreed confession on Press TV in order to secure his release.
The confession later featured in a Press TV show which claimed Western coverage of the 2009 Iranian election had been biased.
Iran has also long been criticised for its atrocious human rights records - particularly its treatment of LGBT people. In 2011, the year of Corbyn's third appearance, for example, the theocratic state executed three men for being gay. Given that Corbyn is a staunch defender of human rights and individual liberties, it is odd how he chose to do paid work for the a network which is funded by the Iranian regime.
The current Labour leader told PinkNews earlier this week that he had used the Press TV platform to raise human rights issues and the money he received went towards his constituency office. Business Insider contacted Corbyn's office to discuss these claims, as both are very dubious.
Business Insider has contacted Smith for further comment.