Tehran, June 17 – A live broadcast on Iranian state television was abruptly cut off on Monday after a suspected Israeli airstrike rocked the area, forcing the reporter to flee as dust and debris filled the studio.
In a startling moment captured on air, the anchor was seen reacting to what she described as the “sound of aggression against the homeland” moments before a loud explosion struck, causing the broadcast screen behind her to flicker violently.
The anchor hurried off-camera, and the channel immediately switched to prerecorded programming. Viewers were left stunned by the sudden disruption, which marked a rare moment of vulnerability on tightly controlled Iranian state media.
The state-run IRNA news agency confirmed that the strike occurred in the vicinity of the state television complex in Tehran. Just an hour prior, Israel had issued a warning advising evacuation from the area — an unusual move suggesting a targeted operation.
There was no immediate official statement from the Iranian military or government, and casualty figures were not yet known.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, with recent weeks seeing a sharp uptick in cross-border threats and military escalations following proxy clashes across the region.
Israeli authorities have not officially confirmed the strike but have reiterated their stance of pre-emptive action against threats emanating from Iran.
Analysts say the disruption of a live national broadcast in Iran is highly symbolic, highlighting both the reach of Israeli intelligence and growing vulnerabilities within Iran’s strategic infrastructure.
