Iranian broadcaster resumes livestream after Israeli strike, anchor vows to keep exposing “crimes”
IRIB returns to air minutes after targeted bombing as journalists defy Israeli attempt to silence coverage
TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) — Iran’s state broadcaster resumed its live war coverage on Monday just minutes after an Israeli airstrike targeted the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) headquarters in Tehran — a defiant act that has drawn global attention to what journalists are calling a direct attempt to silence critical reporting.
The attack came as IRIB was airing live updates on the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, which erupted after Tel Aviv launched an unprovoked assault on Iranian soil last Friday.
The anchor delivering the news was on air when a bomb hit the building. After a brief blackout, the broadcast resumed from a separate studio with the same anchor returning on screen.
Calm and composed, she declared, “If I die, others will take my place and reveal your crimes to the world.” Her remarks quickly circulated on social media, becoming a symbol of media resistance amid war.
IRIB, the country’s largest media organization, has been instrumental in covering Israel’s attacks on civilians and infrastructure.
Its continuous reporting has countered Israeli messaging and strengthened public unity in Iran — making it a likely target of the strike.
Footage released shortly after the bombing showed a heavily damaged building with smoke billowing from its roof.
A visibly injured journalist outside the complex said he had no information about colleagues still inside but vowed to continue reporting. “If this is your way of silencing our voice, let me tell you that it will not work,” he said, holding up bleeding hands.
The deliberate targeting of journalists and press institutions during armed conflict constitutes a war crime under international law.
The Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court explicitly protect media personnel and infrastructure.
Israel has a long record of attacking journalists, most notably in Gaza where over 170 Palestinian reporters have been killed during the current conflict. Media workers have been hit in cars, refugee shelters, and residential buildings — often with their families.
Analysts say the goal is to control the narrative, eliminate independent documentation, and intimidate others into silence. However, IRIB’s quick return to the airwaves has sent a clear message: the effort to suppress Iran’s media will not succeed.
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