Did you catch Cathy Newman’s interview with Tehran University’s Mohammad Marandi? Tuesday 13th Jan, 2026?
He’s a pretty regular commentator on Channel four so it wasn’t a surprise to hear him speaking on Channel Four news after it was reported on Reuters more than 2000 people protesters had been killed by the government of Iran this week, his reasoning/explanation the agitators were terrorists not as the west said young people sick of sanctions, zero opportunities and rising food prices and cost of living.
Before I start I am not pro the Iranian government, I have friends who have shared their concerns and desire for change. I am not anti the monarchy here in the UK but like Margaret Thatcher I believe in people’s fundamental right to freedom and civil liberty.
I decided to write on this one specific and impactful interview, having just read after two decades on channel four news, numerous awards and accolades, particularly for her tireless work to expose the Church of England cover up of John Smyth and bring about the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the journalist Cathy Newman is going to Sky News. It may be because Channel Four is eventually being sold or shut down, the rumours have been flying around for a few years the news programme was in financial trouble. Losing their most popular anchor I am sure hasn’t helped the cause for Channel Four News’ survival. Will I follow her to Sky News, a paid subscription. Not sure about that despite being a loyal watcher and fan of hers for years.
Two days ago I watched Cathy Newman completely lose her cool with the former Iranian advisor who told her Ayatollah Khamenei is not going anywhere, something she very rarely does and it wasn’t pretty to watch.
She was looking to make him accountable for the deadly crackdown on protestors in Iran who say the Iranian government no longer has the right to govern all whilst Donald Trump stirs the pot on Truth Social saying “keep protesting, help is on the way” And the market’s reaction, the price of oil continues to sky rocket. It’s interesting to me the Americans have human rights in Venezuela and Iran in their sights, the protection of the mighty US available, both oil reserve rich nations whilst the slaughter in other countries around the world doesn’t get a mention or any kind of news reel highlight what so ever. Another rant for another day.
I know Cathy Newman’s motive comes from a deep place of compassion in the most part. She has shown herself to be fearless and relentless in the pursuit of truth but unfortunately on this occasion she didn’t succeed against the articulate adversary she sat opposite in Professor Mohammad Marandi. He managed to wind her up and sadly in doing so he got the better of her and left the audience looking closely at his perspective. She got personal accusing him of being afraid of her questions, to which his response was simple, I am not afraid, I am sitting here answering them.
It’s a fact Erfan Soltani, 26, was arrested last Thursday 8th Jan, 2026 in the city of Fardis, just west of Tehran. He was scheduled to be executed on 14th January. Days later, authorities informed his family his execution had been postponed amidst global news coverage of the young man’s situation and intervention from human rights watch groups around the world.
But Professor Marandi managed to spin a narrative of violent terrorists on the streets, the authorities are dealing with as would happen in any country and backed it up with no information being released by the Iranian government of the numbers of people confirmed dead and the reports issued by Reuters News agency being erroneous and unfounded. Even Donald Trump was very careful when questioned on the numbers of people killed saying in his usual weird way, I don’t know, It could be one, it could be less than one, but even one is too many. I kid you not. I know I thought wtf when I heard the broadcast.
Professor Marandi, whilst his demeanor was creepy, taunting, laughing, smug everything ugly and disrespectful to Cathy Newman, what he was saying you couldn’t deny was possible, his argument was credible, well presented and reasonable, based on the fact he was there in Tehran watching what was happening, we weren’t and Channel Four News, “a credible journalistic outfit” was looking to him for his content and contribution. The interview lasted 7 minutes. I’ve included the link below, because at the end of the day, what makes one side have the right to say the way things are done in other independent states is wrong. History has shown us that attempts to force regime change anywhere never end well regardless if the public believe governments motives to step in, which rarely is the real position, it usually comes down to money and power. Like I said is it a complete coincidence the two places being fought over right now, three if you included Ukraine have the largest oil and mineral reserves.
Professor Marandi compared the UK monarchal “regime” as being not greatly dissimilar to Iran’s and it reminded me of a film I’d seen of a bystander pointedly asking the King, Charles III what he was going to do about the allegations against his brother Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and subsequently being threatened by security forces. I don’t know if the person brave enough to speak out was arrested but I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if they were, so are we really any different?
I am not sure if this was the outcome Channel Four or Cathy Newman hoped for when they invited Professor Marandi onto the program but the journalists who are tasked with uncovering the lies and getting to the truth have to be more centred than Cathy was this time if they want to come out on top. Getting personal and wanting to win at any cost allows a worthy adversary the advantage.