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Rita Panahi, a prominent anchor for Sky News Australia, left her audience astonished when she delivered a fiery outburst directed at Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following his death. The outburst, delivered in her native Persian, was both unexpected and intense.
During a segment focused on Iran, Panahi passionately exclaimed, “You son of a b—h, shame on you, burn in hell!” The moment was captured in a video clip that quickly gained traction on social media platforms, amassing over 100,000 views shortly after being posted. The segment was captioned on-screen as “RITA’S TAKE ON STRIKES ON IRAN.”
Starting her commentary on Sky News Australia, Panahi remarked, “This will be the shortest editorial I’ll ever deliver.” She continued by stating, “After 47 years of Islamist tyranny, the dictator is dead, and Iran is poised on the brink of liberation.”
Expressing disbelief at witnessing such a historic moment, Panahi admitted, “I never thought I would see this day in my lifetime.” She also lauded former President Trump for his “courage” and willingness to “take a risk” by authorizing military action against Iran.
“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.”
Panahi added that she “never thought I would see this day in my lifetime.” She also praised Trump for his “courage” for taking a “risk” in ordering the military action against Iran.
Panahi, a longtime conservative commentator and host of âThe Rita Panahi Showâ on Sky News Australia, has frequently criticized the Iranian regime, often citing her childhood in Iran before her family fled to Australia as refugees in 1984.
Khamenei, who had ruled the Islamic Republic since 1989, was killed late Saturday in a massive joint US-Israeli military offensive that struck his fortified compound in central Tehran, according to Iranian state media and Western reports.
The operation, described by officials as âOperation Epic Furyâ in the US and involving coordinated air and missile strikes, targeted multiple senior regime figures and used real-time intelligence on a rare leadership meeting that morning to maximize surprise.
Israelâs prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and President Donald Trump both confirmed the compound was destroyed and that Khamenei was dead, with reports saying about 40 top Iranian officials were also killed.
Born in Pine Bluff, Ark., to Iranian parents, Panahi spent her early years in Tehran before emigrating to Melbourne. She has spoken publicly about her opposition to the Islamic Republic and its treatment of women.
Saturdayâs outburst marked one of her most direct and personal denunciations of the regimeâs leadership.
The clip shows Panahi seated on a Sky News set flanked by two male panelists as she delivered the remark in Persian. The showâs branding â âREAL NEWS, HONEST VIEWSâ â appeared beneath the segment.
It was not immediately clear whether the comment was made live or during a prerecorded discussion. Sky News Australia has not publicly commented on the viral clip.
Panahi, who also fronts the segment âLefties Losing Itâ and appears on the Sunday panel show âOutsiders,â commands a large social media following, with more than 500,000 followers on X.
Her commentary often blends foreign policy, culture-war issues and sharp critiques of progressive politics.
She has previously drawn backlash for controversial remarks, including a 2015 column criticizing Islam and a 2024 on-air correction over a false claim tied to a US political ad.
Sky News Australia is a subsidiary of News Corp Australia, which shares common ownership with The Post’s corporate parent, News Corp.
