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Sky News Australia's Rita Panahi Goes Viral for On-Air Persian Denunciation of Khamenei After U.S.-Israeli Strike

Her on-air praise for President Trump framed the operation as a turning point for Iran.

Overview

  • During a segment labeled “RITA’S TAKE ON STRIKES ON IRAN,” Rita Panahi cursed Khamenei in Persian, declared the “dictator is dead,” and credited President Trump’s “courage.”
  • The clip spread rapidly on X, with outlets reporting view counts surging into the millions within a day.
  • Khamenei’s death followed a U.S.- and Israeli-led operation known as Operation Epic Fury, which Trump and Netanyahu said destroyed his Tehran compound and killed additional senior figures.
  • It remains unclear whether the Sky News segment aired live or was prerecorded, and the network had not issued public comment as of the latest reports.
  • Panahi, who fled Iran as a child and says she cannot safely return, drew mixed online reactions ranging from praise to warnings and criticism.