Israel attacks Iranian state television

Iranian state television IRIB TV was showing news about the attacks that Tehran and Tel Aviv have been launching on each other since Friday. But suddenly the picture shook, a loud bang interrupted the anchor who quickly got up from his chair, while shrapnel fell into the studio. The screen that served as the background for the broadcast went black, a cloud of smoke filled the studio and the broadcast was interrupted for a while.

This is how the state news channel IRIB TV experienced and broadcast live the Israeli attack on its broadcast headquarters this Wednesday.

BREAKING: Iranian State TV IRIB has been struck in Israeli airstrikes pic.twitter.com/fbDDPu3R64

— Faytuks News (@Faytuks) June 16, 2025

Images posted on social media show papers lying on the ground outside the building and a large cloud of black smoke rising from the structure. Despite this, according to the BBC , the station resumed broadcasting a few minutes later.

Explosions at #Iran 's State TV headquarters after #Israel bombed the building today. Worth noting IRIB has worked with the Islamic Republic's intelligence services to broadcast forced confessions of Western hostages, including Americans, and Iranian political prisoners. pic.twitter.com/e64SM4naN3

— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) June 16, 2025

In another video, a journalist from the public broadcaster, identified by pan-Arab television Al Jazeera as Younes Shadlou, spoke about the attack with a bloodied hand and the burning television building in the background , saying that many of his colleagues were inside during the attack despite evacuation orders.

“Everyone stayed until the last moment to show the world the true face of the Zionist regime,” he said in the video, translated by Al Jazeera. “I don’t know how many of my colleagues are still inside right now,” he added.

گزارش خبرنگار صداوسیما از حمله به ساختمان شیشه‌ای صداوسیما pic.twitter.com/AfYPXLXWJg

— خبرگزاری ایسنا (@isna_farsi) June 16, 2025

Earlier, Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz had warned that “the megaphone of Iranian propaganda and incitement” was “ about to disappear .” The IDF (Israel Defense Forces), on the social network X, had also issued an evacuation notice for Tehran’s 3rd district, where its headquarters building is located.

???? هشدار فوری به کلیه أفراد حاضر در ناحیه مشخص شده نقشه ضمیمه در منطقه ۳ تهران.

⭕️ شهروندان گرامی، بمنظور امنیت شما خ٨ در منطقه ۳ تهران فورا خارج گردید.

⭕️ طی ساعات آینده ارتش اسرائیل در این ناku اخیر در محدوده تهران عمل نموده است،… pic.twitter.com/kco8SbtGjw

— ارتش دفاعی اسرائیل | IDF Farsi (@IDFFarsi) June 16, 2025

After the attack, Israel Katz confirmed the offensive to Israeli television cited by the BBC , having said that it had occurred after the area had been evacuated “on a large scale” and promised that they would “ attack the Iranian dictator wherever he is ”.

The IDF said on Telegram that the television station served as a “communications center for the Iranian regime” and was managed by the country’s Revolutionary Guards.

“According to our intelligence services, the center was used by military forces to carry out operational activities under the guise of civilian assets and infrastructure,” the publication also reads.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called the attack “a vicious act of war crime” on the X social network. “The Israeli regime is the greatest enemy of truth and the number one killer of journalists and the media,” he added, calling on the UN Security Council to take action.

The world is watching: targeting Iran's news agency #IRIB 's office during live broadcast is a wicked act of war crime. Israeli regime is the biggest enemy of truth and is the No#1 killer of #journalists and #media people. The UNSC must act now to stop the genocidal aggressor…

— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) June 16, 2025