An Iranian news anchor has emerged as a national symbol of resilience after staying on air during an Israeli airstrike on Tehran.
Sahar Emami was delivering a live broadcast on Iranian state television when loud explosions suddenly interrupted the program, filling the studio with smoke and debris. Undeterred, she addressed viewers directly: “The sound you just heard is from the aggressor attacking our homeland… attempting to suppress righteousness and truth.”
Shortly after, a second blast forced Emami to evacuate the studio. However, she resumed broadcasting from another location within minutes, even as videos circulating online showed flames and smoke rising from the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) headquarters. The strike left three people dead, including two IRIB staff members.
Government officials and state media swiftly praised Emami, calling her the “Iranian lioness.” President Masoud Pezeshkian hailed her as a “symbol of resilience,” while government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani compared her to Gordafarid, a legendary heroine from Persian literature. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described her as “the voice of Iran.”
A mural honoring Emami was unveiled within 24 hours in Tehran’s Vali-e Asr Square, accompanied by a verse from Ferdowsi’s epic Shahnameh.
Emami, 40, holds a degree in agricultural engineering and has worked at IRIB since 2008. While the broadcaster has faced criticism for its alignment with the government, Emami’s composure during the attack earned widespread admiration — even from some critics of the regime.
