Tehran, Iran. Iran’s foreign minister said in an interview with NBC News that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was alive following joint strikes by the United States and Israel. Abbas Araghchi said two commanders had been killed while senior officials had survived.
Interview comments on leadership status
Speaking live from Tehran, Araghchi said Khamenei was still alive “as far as I know.” He said senior officials in the Iranian regime, including the head of the judiciary and the parliament speaker, had survived.
“All high ranking officials are alive,” Araghchi said. “So everybody is now in its position, and we are handling this situation, and everything is fine.”
Verification and criticism of attacks
NBC News said it had not independently verified the claims. Araghchi also criticized the United States and Israel for launching the attack despite ongoing nuclear negotiations.
What do you make of Iran’s foreign minister’s account of the leadership situation after the strikes?
