At least two Iranian state television channels have aired live programs featuring presenters carrying weapons, in a striking display amid the country’s ongoing regional tensions and security concerns.
During one televised program, host Hossein Hosseini was seen receiving basic firearms training live on air from a masked member of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The presenter was reportedly shown how to prepare and handle the weapon before symbolically aiming toward the flag of the United Arab Emirates and mimicking a gunshot gesture during the broadcast.
In another live program, female presenter Mobina Nasiri appeared holding a firearm, saying the weapon had been sent to her from a gathering at Tehran’s Vanak Square so she could appear armed in front of the cameras.
While holding the weapon during the live broadcast, Nasiri declared, “From this platform, I announce that I am ready to sacrifice my life for this country.”
The unusual scenes on Iranian state television have drawn attention on social media and international media platforms, with observers describing the broadcasts as part of Iran’s growing wartime-style messaging amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.
