The BBC has faced accusations of “war propaganda” over the illegal and unprovoked US-Israeli attacks on Iran, which have killed over a thousand people since Saturday 28 February.
Having spent over two years putting out pro-Israel propaganda amid the apartheid state’s genocide in Gaza, the British state broadcaster doesn’t exactly hide its pro-establishment bias. But author Trita Parsi directly called its Iran coverage out after a report only selected pro-war Iranian voices. As he said:
Those views exist. But when you ONLY air those voices, you are doing war propaganda.
I was on BBC last night, following a clip with voices from Iran. All the selected voices welcomed war, saying they cheered every time they heard an explosion.
Those views exist. But when you ONLY air those voices, you are doing war propaganda.
And I told BBC that live on air. pic.twitter.com/ZCsy3qKOC2
— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) March 3, 2026
Israel has also invaded Lebanon during the latest offensive, killing 50 people and injuring hundreds more. And on that front, the BBC‘s propaganda has also faced criticism:
The @BBCNews has become an accomplice not only to genocide in Gaza but now also the project for Greater Israel. This report @YolandeKnell is a disgrace, and sanitises the invasion of a sovereign country & the trashing of international law. Orwell will be spinning in his grave https://t.co/pV25KZXH5A
— William Dalrymple (@DalrympleWill) March 3, 2026
As Saul Staniforth pointed out, the start of one answer sums up the BBC‘s role as a PR outlet for Israel:
So, the Israeli military said…
Yolande Knells reporting over the last 2+ years captured in a single 13 second clip. pic.twitter.com/zw62jNe39l
— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) March 4, 2026
Elsewhere, more independent media has exposed the illegal US-Israeli actions for the dangerously destructive farce they are:
When the world seems impossibly grim, @PrivateEyeNews always helps… pic.twitter.com/vs8Clf2hy8
— William Dalrymple (@DalrympleWill) March 4, 2026
And as Steve Howell insisted, the UK doesn’t have to – and should not – participate:
Radical idea: Let’s close ALL overseas bases and invest in health, education and housing.
Having these bases, and letting US bombers use them, only makes us a target and risks dragging us into Washington’s wars.
It costs £billions and contributes nothing to our own defence. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/1rFDdAqHMr
— Steve Howell (@FromSteveHowell) March 3, 2026
Your Party’s Jeremy Corbyn, meanwhile, has called for parliament to ensure such a decision isn’t just in the hands of the corrupt, pro-Israel cabinet:
I have tabled a Bill to require Parliamentary approval for the foreign use of British military bases.
We must learn the lessons of the past — and stop our Prime Minister from dragging Britain into another catastrophic, illegal war. pic.twitter.com/ZSfHM2fKp8
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) March 4, 2026
Spain has also been showing that there is another way:
Spain’s position on Iran is clear — the same stance we have taken on Ukraine & Gaza.
No to breaches of intrl law, which protects us all, especially civilians.
We reject the idea that the world can solve its problems through bombs.
Let us not repeat past mistakes.
NO TO WAR https://t.co/Fkcm4RPo1L
— Embassy of Spain UK (@EmbSpainUK) March 4, 2026
The world, Europe, and Spain have faced this critical moment before. In 2003, a few irresponsible leaders dragged us into an illegal war in the Middle East that brought nothing but insecurity and pain.
Our response then must be our response now:
NO to violations of…
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) March 4, 2026
Don’t let the BBC push us to another costly, devastating quagmire
Commentators have emphasised how expensive the US-Israeli assault on Iran is, and how much more expensive it could get:
According to the Iran Cost Ticker, Trump and Israel’s war on Iran has already cost US taxpayers more than $2bn!
It’s been three days…https://t.co/tCn3BhSuJb
— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) March 3, 2026
Iran’s cheap drones can quickly deplete expensive US-made weapons. The outcome of the war may be determined by which side’s weapons last longer. Read more: https://t.co/r5oEfpFqTZ
: Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu/Anadolu pic.twitter.com/WKSPZIpFd9
— Bloomberg (@business) March 3, 2026
Just remember that it took 3.5 trillion dollars and 20 years to replace the Taliban with the Taliban. Let that sink in… https://t.co/EXX9hVa85g
— Mark Seddon (@MarkSeddon1962) March 3, 2026
In the US, even Democrats (who have enabled Israel’s genocide) have read the room and spoken out. They know how unpopular the offensive already is, and they have spoken out en masse:
Just so we’re clear, the number of Americans who approve of Trump’s Iran war is 27%.
So we’re also clear, the number of Americans who approved of the Vietnam War at its end in 1973-4 was 29%.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) March 3, 2026
Today, Congress was finally briefed on Trump’s war of choice in Iran.
Even behind closed doors, they couldn’t get their story straight.
But one thing is clear: they don’t have a clue what the end game is, and it sure as hell isn’t making America safer. pic.twitter.com/8foSSDwNKT
— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) March 4, 2026
Senator Elizabeth Warren just walked out of the classified Iran briefing:
“I was worried before. I’m more worried now.”
Then she said the quiet part loud:
“It is so much worse than you think.”
No plan. Illegal war. Based on lies. No imminent threat.
That’s not the… pic.twitter.com/cPELx6jRre— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) March 4, 2026
Trump is lying.
I serve on the Intel & Armed Services Committees.
There’s no intelligence that Iran posed an imminent threat to the U.S. or the American people. pic.twitter.com/GQ6cxyuMk4
— Rep. Jason Crow (@RepJasonCrow) March 3, 2026
Yes, I said this. And after a one-hour classified briefing where I learned absolutely nothing I didn’t already know about the administration’s ever-changing rationalizations for this war of choice, I stand by the statement. We are being fed piles of bullshit by a war-hungry… https://t.co/Rg96RPWB8P
— Rep. Jared Huffman (@JaredHuffman) March 4, 2026
Countless Democratic officials have raised their concerns about the assault.
In the UK, meanwhile, US-Israeli terror is also unpopular. And if we want to avoid further entanglement in another costly, devastating quagmire, we need to raise our voices so loudly that the establishment – including the BBC – can’t ignore us.
Featured image via Saul Staniforth
By Ed Sykes
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