Iran's foreign minister speaks about the attack that killed Khamenei

Abbas Araghchi said he has moved a lot since being saved from under the rubble after a strike on the first day of the war.

Published 22 July 2026 172 words
WORLD A2
Iran's foreign minister speaks about the attack that killed Khamenei

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, explained how he was rescued from under destroyed buildings. This happened after an air strike by the US and Israel. The strike killed Iran's leader, Ali Khamenei, on the first day of the war. Araghchi said he has stayed safe by moving around the city of Tehran in a car all the time.

In an interview, Araghchi said that Israel and the US had good information. They knew where Khamenei and other important people were. This helped them attack Iran's main leaders.

He has not yet met the new leader, Khamenei's son Mojtaba. But Araghchi believes his appointment sends a clear message. It shows that the government's aims and beliefs will not change.

Araghchi also talked about the earlier talks with the US. He said he did not think they would work but they were important. He wanted to show that Iran tried to talk peacefully. He said that this way, no one could blame Iran for the fighting.

Vocabulary

rescued — saved from a dangerous or unpleasant situation
air strike — an attack made by aircraft using bombs or missiles
leader — a person in charge of a group or country
appointment — the act of choosing someone for a job or position
aims — goals or purposes
peacefully — in a calm and quiet way, without fighting

Discussion Questions

  1. What happened to Iran's leader, Ali Khamenei?
  2. How did Abbas Araghchi stay safe after the attack?
  3. What message does the new leader's appointment send?

Based on an article from The Guardian.

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