In a dramatic moment aired live, Iranian state television abruptly cut its broadcast on Monday following an explosion triggered by an Israeli strike in Tehran. The incident occurred just an hour after Israel issued a warning to evacuate the central part of the capital, where Iran’s national TV studios are located.
During the disrupted broadcast, a visibly alarmed reporter on Iranian state TV said the studio was filling with dust after “the sound of aggression against the homeland”. Moments later, an explosion shattered the screen behind her after which she fled off camera. The broadcast transitioned to pre-recorded programming.
Watch the video here
#BREAKING Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran's state broadcaster in Tehran. pic.twitter.com/BHlZPGSEBg
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) June 16, 2025
The Israeli strike came after Iran launched another wave of missile attacks targeting Israel early Monday, killing at least eight people. In response, Israel has intensified its operations, with Defense Minister Israel Katz declaring, “The Iranian propaganda and incitement mouthpiece is on its way to disappearing.”
The Israeli military issued an evacuation alert for a central district of Tehran, affecting an estimated 3,30,000 residents. The area includes key infrastructure such as Iran’s national police headquarters, three major hospitals and the state broadcaster’s facilities.
“We have achieved full aerial superiority over Tehran’s skies,” said Israeli military spokesperson General Effie Defrin, adding that Israeli forces had destroyed over 120 surface-to-surface missile launchers across central Iran, roughly one-third of the country’s arsenal.
The ongoing conflict has now entered its fourth day, with both nations exchanging strikes and rhetoric. Meanwhile, in his address at the ongoing G7 Summit in Canada, US President Donald Trump on Monday said that Iran should “talk before it’s too late”.
Trump’s comments came after he reportedly didn’t sign off on the G7 statement on the Iran-Israel war. “I’d say Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk, and they should talk immediately before it’s too late,” Trump told reporters at the start of a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.