Sky News Australia Host Rita Panahi Celebrates Reported Death Of Iran's Supreme Leader, Says 'Rot In Hell'

Sky News Australia presenter and former Iranian resident Rita Panahi publicly celebrated reports that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed in a reported strike. The remarks were delivered during a televised editorial on the program Outsiders and were echoed by co-host Rowan Dean.

On-Air Remarks

"This will be the shortest editorial I'll ever deliver," Panahi said. "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. I never thought I would see this day in my lifetime."

Panahi ended her segment by reciting what she described as a Persian insult she rendered in English as, "Your father is a dog, dirt be on your head and rot in hell." Dean responded by saying the moment was deeply personal for Panahi and praised her upbeat reaction.

Personal Context

Panahi, who left Iran as a child, said she has long believed the regime would fall but never expected to witness such an outcome personally. She explained that returning to Iran now would, in her view, put her at risk of arrest or worse because of her public criticism of the regime. She also said she has been unable to visit family or bring her son to the country.

Political Reaction

On air, Panahi praised former President Donald Trump for taking what she described as a politically risky step to remove the leader during an election year. "To do this in an election year with the midterms looming... it is such an enormous risk, but it's the right thing to do even at personal political cost," she said.

Reports and Context

Several outlets reported that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and between five and ten senior Iranian figures were killed in an apparent strike on Tehran, which some sources described as part of a coordinated U.S.-Israeli operation dubbed "Operation Epic Fury." These reports were widely circulated online and prompted a range of international reactions, from jubilation among some exiled Iranians to sharp criticism from others. Media organizations and officials were still seeking independent confirmation at the time of the broadcast.

Responses And Follow-Up

The segment noted commentary from figures across the political spectrum, including an exiled claimant who described the strikes as the "beginning of the very end" for the regime, and critics such as George Conway, who called U.S. actions "terrorist" in tone. Fox News Digital said it reached out to Sky News Australia for comment.

Note On Verification

Because initial reports about high-profile events can be incomplete or unconfirmed, readers should treat early accounts with caution and look to official sources for verification.