Venezuela honors Iranian anchor who stayed on air during Israeli attack
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro awarded the Simon Bolivar National Journalism Prize to Iranian news anchor Sahar Emami, who gained international attention for resuming her broadcast moments after an Israeli airstrike hit her Tehran studio.
Maduro granted the national journalism award to Emami, who showed "exemplary courage" during the June 16 Israeli attack on Iran's state television headquarters. The award also honors media personnel killed in the strike on the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN), IRNA reported.
Iran's ambassador to Venezuela, Ali Chegini, accepted the prize on behalf of Emami and the families of those killed in the attack during a ceremony at Venezuela's National Journalism Day celebration.
Emami became a household name across the Middle East after video footage showed her briefly leaving the anchor desk when the Israeli strike shook the IRINN studio building. Minutes later, she returned "unshaken and resolute" to resume the live broadcast, earning widespread praise for her composure under fire.
The June attack came after Israel issued evacuation warnings for the Tehran area where the television studios are located. The explosion filled the studio with dust and debris during the live broadcast, forcing Emami to duck for cover before returning to continue reporting.
Iranian Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei praised Emami's actions, and she has since become a symbol of defiance in Iran. Images of Emami "facing the camera with a defiant gaze, her index finger raised in the air" have circulated widely on social media.
The Simon Bolivar Prize recognizes outstanding journalism and is named after the South American independence hero. Venezuela's state media broadcast the award ceremony live across multiple national television channels.