The Israeli television series Tehran is once again drawing international attention, this time over the timing of its third season on Apple TV+. The new season premiered over the weekend on Apple’s streaming platform, coinciding with an escalation of protests and unrest against Iran’s ruling regime.
The third season had already aired in Israel on the public broadcaster Kan, but its global release sparked widespread discussion online about what many viewers described as an uncanny coincidence.
“The timing of Tehran Season 3 dropping today on @AppleTV is surreal,” one user wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “It feels like this show has a direct line to reality. Every time a new season lands, the real-world headlines seem to match the plot almost perfectly.” Another user wrote on X, “What timing for Apple to launch a third season of a spy drama.”
One post by a user named David mocked attempts to suggest an Israeli conspiracy behind the release date. “Who's behind the protests in Iran? Just ask: who benefits?” he wrote sarcastically. “The answer is obvious. The producers of Tehran and Jews like Tim Apple. Season 3 drops literally the same day that the protests explode?! Please. If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn,” he added, using a common American expression to highlight extreme naivety.
Producers of Tehran say they are pleased with the conversation surrounding the series and note that it has ranked highly in weekend viewing figures in several countries. “We are satisfied with the viewership,” producer Shula Spiegel told ynet. “In the end, every delay works out for the best. There was a production freeze, and the fact is that we are releasing it now with no connection to the unrest. We did not know it would happen, and the release date was set a long time ago. We are already looking ahead and have finished filming half of the next season.”