In a powerful display of defiance and resilience, renowned Iranian news anchor Sahar Emami returned to her broadcast Tuesday—just one day after an Israeli missile strike targeted the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) headquarters during her live news segment.
The 40-year-old anchor, visibly composed, opened the transmission with the words:
“I fear none but Allah.”
Emami condemned the missile attack as “an assault on truth itself,” asserting that the true targets were not just the broadcast studios, but “the voices of all the martyred men, women and children of Iran.”
Monday’s strike was one of the most direct assaults on Iran’s media infrastructure to date. The IRIB headquarters in Tehran was hit mid-broadcast, with footage showing Emami continuing her report amid smoke and falling debris before being evacuated. Iranian media later confirmed that one female staffer was killed and several others injured in the attack.
Broadcasts were temporarily halted, but resumed from a backup studio on Tuesday. Emami’s return quickly went viral across social media platforms, hailed by supporters as a symbol of national resilience and press bravery.
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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised Emami in a social media post, calling her “the voice of Iran.” She also received official recognition from Vice President for Women and Family Affairs Zahra Bahramzadeh Azar.
A mother of two and former agricultural engineer, Emami began her journalism career in 2010. She rose to prominence with programs like “Newsstand” and “Morning with the News.” Her unwavering composure during the attack has made her an international symbol of journalistic courage.
The broadcaster strike marks the fifth high-profile attack on Iranian targets in under a week, as tensions between Iran and Israel escalate. Analysts warn that this specific targeting of state media could indicate a broader shift in Israel’s military strategy—aiming not just at defense and nuclear sites, but at Iran’s public messaging apparatus.
