Latest news with #MohammadAliShabani
The Age
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Age
Terrified Iranians left to fend for themselves, as leaders play songs on TV
As Iran's president gathered his cabinet on Sunday afternoon to praise the armed forces for their performance, Tehran residents were filling their social media feeds with pictures and videos of fresh Israeli airstrikes that had destroyed buildings. It was a dramatic split-screen moment, demonstrating how Iran's government has tried to portray strength since Israel began its attack on the country on Friday morning even as a terrified population has decried the absence of adequate safety instructions and evacuation orders. That President Masoud Pezeshkian convened such a meeting of top officials in a single location – just days after Israeli forces had wiped out much of Iran's top military brass – showed an 'arrogance and lack of adherence to basic security protocol', Mohammad Ali Shabani, an Iranian-born scholar of the Middle East, wrote on X. 'They don't even need to look abroad for lessons at this point, yet refuse to learn,' he wrote. Throughout Sunday and Monday, Iranian state television played clips of pro-government rallies and focused coverage on the damage in Israel wrought by Iran's retaliatory missile barrages. On Sunday, however, Tehran residents began a mass exodus from the capital city for fear of being caught up in the conflict. Even after Israel issued an evacuation warning on Monday for part of Tehran, Iran's state-run television, whose offices are within that zone, continued as normal, airing videos of children singing patriotic songs and images of Iranian missiles hitting Israeli targets – up until the moment an Israeli strike hit the television studio. The news host sprang up from her chair, and a man, expressing defiance, could be heard saying 'God is great' on air. Iranians complained in interviews about the slow, sparse provision of safety protocols and instructions from the government. These Iranians contrasted the government's relative silence on safety measures with its frequent use of text messages to admonish women over insufficiently modest attire. To fill the vacuum, Iranians were turning to social media, friends and family, and foreign-based news outlets for information.
Sydney Morning Herald
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Terrified Iranians left to fend for themselves, as leaders play songs on TV
As Iran's president gathered his cabinet on Sunday afternoon to praise the armed forces for their performance, Tehran residents were filling their social media feeds with pictures and videos of fresh Israeli airstrikes that had destroyed buildings. It was a dramatic split-screen moment, demonstrating how Iran's government has tried to portray strength since Israel began its attack on the country on Friday morning even as a terrified population has decried the absence of adequate safety instructions and evacuation orders. That President Masoud Pezeshkian convened such a meeting of top officials in a single location – just days after Israeli forces had wiped out much of Iran's top military brass – showed an 'arrogance and lack of adherence to basic security protocol', Mohammad Ali Shabani, an Iranian-born scholar of the Middle East, wrote on X. 'They don't even need to look abroad for lessons at this point, yet refuse to learn,' he wrote. Throughout Sunday and Monday, Iranian state television played clips of pro-government rallies and focused coverage on the damage in Israel wrought by Iran's retaliatory missile barrages. On Sunday, however, Tehran residents began a mass exodus from the capital city for fear of being caught up in the conflict. Even after Israel issued an evacuation warning on Monday for part of Tehran, Iran's state-run television, whose offices are within that zone, continued as normal, airing videos of children singing patriotic songs and images of Iranian missiles hitting Israeli targets – up until the moment an Israeli strike hit the television studio. The news host sprang up from her chair, and a man, expressing defiance, could be heard saying 'God is great' on air. Iranians complained in interviews about the slow, sparse provision of safety protocols and instructions from the government. These Iranians contrasted the government's relative silence on safety measures with its frequent use of text messages to admonish women over insufficiently modest attire. To fill the vacuum, Iranians were turning to social media, friends and family, and foreign-based news outlets for information.
News18
a day ago
- Politics
- News18
'Don't Know How Many Were Killed': Reporter With Bloodied Hands Goes Live As Iran State TV Burns
This comes after another video went viral, showing Israel's attack on the news channel being caught on live TV while an anchor was on air. Iran's state broadcaster headquarters in Tehran was struck by an Israeli missile on Monday evening, disrupting a live transmission and sparking a large fire. Footage from the scene showed the building ablaze as thick smoke billowed into the sky, moments after a loud explosion cut off the ongoing broadcast. A senior correspondent from the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) was later seen delivering a report from outside the heavily damaged facility, surrounded by flames and smoke. The attack marks a significant escalation, targeting one of the country's key media institutions in the heart of the capital. 'I don't know how many of my colleagues were killed. I was in the front line when the bomb was dropped. I don't know how many of my colleagues were martyred," said Younes Shadlouh, his hands bloodied from the attack. Bloodied journalist speaks in front of burning building in state broadcaster complex following Israeli airstrike. In defiant message, he says Iran will not submit and will continue to resist Israeli aggression. — Mohammad Ali Shabani (@mashabani) June 16, 2025 Shadlouh further added: 'They told me to evacuate the area, but everyone, until the last moment, showed a picture of power of Iran to the world." Anchor Sahar Emami rushed off-camera as the screen behind her cut out, and people were heard saying 'Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for God is great. The broadcast quickly switched to pre-recorded programs. Soon, Emami came back live from another studio and was seen speaking with another anchor. She said that 'bodies of reporters" were at the site of the initial broadcast, and images showed smoke and flames in the sky.
