A TV reporter signed off on a live broadcast with “Marg bar Khamenei” (death to Khamenei) instead of one of the chants typically heard at one of the regime-backed rallies, such as “death to Israel.”
An Iranian broadcast reporter appeared to say “death to Khamenei” on live television on Wednesday.
During a live broadcast commemorating the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, reporter Musab Rasoulizad was present at one of the rallies, describing the turnout.
He then said “Marg bar Khamenei” (death to Khamenei) in his sign-off, instead of one of the chants typically heard at one of the regime-backed rallies, such as “death to Israel” or “death to America.”
Notably, the chant was widely used in recent anti-regime protests.
Later, Rasoulizad posted a video apologizing for the incident, calling it a “slip of the tongue and a blunder which was broadcast and became a pretext for anti-revolutionaries,” according to the Saudi state-owned Al Arabiya.
A paratrooper descends with an Iranian flag near Azadi Tower during the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Tehran, Iran February 11, 2026 (credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS)
Iranian journalist says “death to Khamenei” on live television
After the incident, Iran’s state broadcaster said that it had dismissed the provincial broadcast station’s director and had summoned several others for disciplinary review.
“The broadcast director of the Hamoun provincial TV channel has been dismissed following an error that occurred on the provincial network,” Al Arabiya quoted Iran’s state television authority as saying on Wednesday. “The transmission operator and broadcast supervisor were suspended. Other staff found at fault were also referred to the disciplinary committee.”
Mosque plays ‘death to Khamenei’ over loudspeaker on Islamic Revolution anniversary
Also on Wednesday, social media footage showed a mosque sermon in which a speaker nearly uttered the same phrase.
In the video, after the speaker chants “death to America,” the phrase “Marg bar Khamen-” can be heard before cutting off.
On Wednesday, Iran marked 47 years since the Islamic Revolution with rallies across the country and speeches from leaders.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei claimed that Iran’s enemies, who were “seeking the surrender of the Iranian nation,” were frustrated by the supposed turnout of the rallies.
“Dear Iranian nation. By God’s grace, you carried out this great feat yesterday, and Almighty God shall reward the nation for such a presence and such a monumental movement. That reward will be greater honor, authority, and independence, God willing,” he wrote in a post on X/Twitter.
At one anniversary event, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed the Islamic regime felt “great sorrow” over the recent crackdown on protesters during a Wednesday speech for the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.
“We are ashamed before the people. We are obliged to serve all those who were harmed in this process. We are ready to hear the voice of the people. We are servants of the people, and we do not seek to confront the people,” he said.
He also claimed that the regime was ready to “hear the voice of the people.”
However, according to the report, Pezeshkian failed to address the protestors’ claims, only focusing on the methods used by the Islamic Republic to silence them and in delivering a “unifying message.”
International human rights groups reported that the regime’s crackdown claimed over 30,000 victims. However, the Islamic Regime has claimed that only 5,000 people died in the scuffles.
Tobias Holcman contributed to this report.