The death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gripped the world in a chokehold, not only because it was unexpected, but also because of the circumstances in which it happened.
The death was confirmed amidst coordinated U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iranian leadership targets and has only worsened the geopolitical tensions between Iran and the United States. The death of Ali Khamenei, though, has big repercussions for Iran, and while his was a dictatorial leadership, the chaos this has brought into the region is not to be ignored.
The reaction to his death, though, was widespread, from many being concerned at what this could result in, mourning in Tehran, and even some sectors celebrating the news. The emotionally charged and profane statements by one television anchor ended up going viral.
What Did The Anchor Say?
On Saturday, February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a series of aerial strikes against strategic military and leadership targets in Iran. The assault targeted senior Iranian figures and key command infrastructure in and around Tehran. It was during this time that Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was assassinated.
The news of Khamenei’s death, who was a central figure in the Islamic Republic’s leadership for more than 36 years, was confirmed by the Iranian government on March 1, 2026. He, along with his daughter, son-in-law, grandchild, and daughter-in-law, were all killed in the strikes that hit his residence in the city.
His death, though, sparked a diverse level of reactions with some mourning, and even crying in front of the camera, lamenting the loss of their leader, while others carried out celebrations in the street, happy with his death.
However, among all these, Rita Panahi, an anchor at Sky News Australia, went viral for her reaction to his death on Saturday. Speaking in Persian, Panahi, in the now viral video clip, is heard saying, “A message to the late Supreme Leader: You son of a b*tch, burn in hell!”
Read More: Brave Iranian Women Show What It Takes To Defy Dictatorship
According to reports, Panahi further added, “This will be the shortest editorial I’ll ever deliver,” and that “All I have to say is that after 47 years of Islamist tyranny, the dictator is dead and Iran is on the verge of being liberated.”
She also said how she “never thought I would see this day in my lifetime.”
The dramatic on-air statement was displayed on screen with a chyron reading “RITA’S TAKE ON STRIKES ON IRAN.”
The clip struck a nerve online, amassing over 100,000 views within hours on X/Twitter. Some users applauded her bold language and emotional candour; one remarked, “She really said ‘I’m choosing violence today’ and didn’t blink. Mic drop of the century,” while another tweeted, “The Aussies really are fantastic people.”
As per another report, her co-host Rowan Dean appeared to support her sentiment on air, adding, “Couldn’t have said it better myself!”
The attacks provoked immediate retaliation from Iran, as ballistic missiles and drones were launched toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the region. The conflict, now escalating rapidly across the Middle East, has sparked fears of a broader regional war.
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Sources: Moneycontrol, Business Today, AP News
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