Fact Check: "On June 16, 2025, an Israeli strike hit the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN) during a live broadcast in Tehran, causing dust and debris to fill the studio."
What We Know
On June 16, 2025, an Israeli airstrike targeted the headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN) in Tehran while a live broadcast was ongoing. Reports indicate that during the broadcast, an explosion occurred, leading to dust and debris filling the studio, which prompted the anchor, Sahar Emami, to hurriedly leave the camera view (AP News, New York Times). The strike was confirmed by both Iranian state media and the Israeli defense minister, who stated that the attack was aimed at a "communication center" used by the Iranian military (BBC, Washington Post).
Witnesses reported hearing the sound of breaking glass and screams during the live broadcast, and images from the scene showed significant damage to the building (New York Times, CBS News). The Israeli military had issued an evacuation warning for the area one hour prior to the strike, affecting approximately 330,000 residents in central Tehran (AP News, Washington Post).
Analysis
The claim that an Israeli strike hit the IRINN during a live broadcast is supported by multiple credible sources, including major news outlets like the Associated Press, BBC, and the Washington Post. Each of these sources provided consistent details about the incident, including the immediate aftermath of the explosion, the evacuation warning issued by Israel, and the subsequent chaos that ensued in the studio (AP News, BBC, Washington Post).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations known for their journalistic standards. The AP and BBC, in particular, have extensive experience covering international conflicts and have correspondents in the region. The New York Times and CBS News also provided corroborating reports that aligned with the details from the Iranian state media, which confirmed the strike and its impact on the live broadcast (New York Times, CBS News).
However, it is important to note that the Iranian government has a history of controlling media narratives, which could introduce bias in their reporting. Despite this, the corroboration from independent sources lends credibility to the claims made by Iranian state media regarding the strike's occurrence during a live broadcast.
Conclusion
The claim that an Israeli strike hit the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN) during a live broadcast in Tehran on June 16, 2025, causing dust and debris to fill the studio is True. The evidence from multiple reputable news sources confirms the incident, detailing the chaos that unfolded during the live broadcast and the subsequent acknowledgment of the attack by both Israeli and Iranian officials.
Sources
- Israel strikes Iranian state TV during live broadcast | AP News
- Israel attacks Iran's state television, live on the air. | New York Times
- Israel bombs Iran state TV during live broadcast | BBC
- Israeli strike on Iranian state TV fills studio with dust and debris | Washington Post
- Iranian TV anchor forced to flee live broadcast after Israel strikes | New York Post
- Israel strikes Iranian state TV, warns people to evacuate | CBS News
