Iranian Professor 'Stayed to Defend Iranian People' for Scheduled Piers Morgan Interview After Israel Bombed the Building

Seyed Mohammad Marandi, an Iranian professor at the University of Tehran, stayed in a news studio after it was bombed by Israel to appear on "Piers Morgan Uncensored" and "defend the Iranian people."

Israel committed a war crime on Monday after it bombed the complex of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Iran's state broadcaster, as popular TV anchor Sahar Emami was live on air condemning "aggression against the homeland," according to Al Jazeera. As smoke and debris filled the room, Emami was seen fleeing the studio.

Marandi, an Iranian-American academic born in Virginia, was also in the studio for a scheduled interview with Piers Morgan. In a post on X, the 59-year-old professor stated that he chose to stay and proceed with the interview despite the danger to his own safety.

"I was at Press TV preparing for an interview with Piers Morgan, a notorious and dishonest genocide enabler, when Zionists bombed Iranian state media, killing journalists," Marandi wrote.

"Smoke was visible as they evacuated the Press TV building, but I refused to leave because of the interview," he continued. "I stayed alone to defend the Iranian people, but Morgan ranted nonsense against Iran, effectively justifying murderous aggression. The supporter of child-killers and journalist-murderers wouldn't even let me speak," Marandi added.

Many social media users have accused Piers Morgan of potentially collaborating with Israeli forces in an alleged attempt to assassinate Marandi, as the professor continues to speak out in defense of Iran.

"Question is: did Israel know @s_m_marandi was in the TV station conducting an interview with @piersmorgan when they bombed it? And if they did how did they know it?" George Galloway, a former member of the UK parliament, wrote on X.

In a follow-up comment, Galloway said he does "intend to pursue the issue."

A "large number of Iranian journalists" were reportedly killed and injured as a result of the attack, according to reporting by Mint. Israel has a history of intentionally targeting journalists. In Gaza, since Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli forces have killed more than 230 Palestinian journalists, more than in both world wars, Vietnam, Yugoslavia and Afghanistan combined, per Al Jazeera.