Iran’s foreign minister describes the moment an attack killed Khamenei

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has spoken about how he was rescued from the destroyed buildings of a government compound after an airstrike by the US and Israel. This strike killed Iran’s top leader, Ali Khamenei, on the first day of the war. Araghchi explained that he has survived since then by moving constantly around the capital city, Tehran, in a car.

In an interview with a journalist from Iran, Javad Mogouyi, Araghchi confirmed that Israel and the US had accurate information about where Khamenei and other officials were located. This information allowed them to target Iran’s most important leaders.

He mentioned that he had not yet met the country’s new leader, Khamenei’s son Mojtaba. However, Araghchi believes Mojtaba’s appointment sends a significant message globally. It indicates that the government’s core policies and beliefs will not change.

Speaking before fighting intensified again about 10 days ago, Araghchi said he had always doubted that talks with the US earlier this year would be successful. He felt these negotiations were necessary, even with only a 10% chance of success. This was partly to ensure no one could blame Iran for not trying diplomacy. He stated that no one would be able to say it was their fault.

In the interview, which was published online on Sunday, Araghchi confirmed that Iran had offered the US a deal regarding its nuclear programme. This offer was made during the last round of talks in Geneva. However, Oman’s foreign minister told Araghchi the next day that the attitude in Washington had suddenly become more aggressive.

The combined strikes by the US and Israel started shortly after 9am the following day. This was when senior officials had gathered for meetings at several important government locations, including the ministry of intelligence and the defence council.

Araghchi noted that Israel having intelligence about these meetings was important. He suggested this might indicate a security weakness that likely still exists and needs to be addressed.

Araghchi was reporting to Khamenei’s deputy chief of staff, Ali Asghar Hijazi, when the building was violently shaken by three explosions in quick succession. The third explosion happened very close to their building, destroying the side where Mr Hijazi’s office was located.

Hijazi’s secretary died immediately. However, Araghchi and Hijazi managed to survive the main force of the explosion. They were on the other side of the building when everything collapsed on them. Araghchi described grabbing Mr Hijazi’s hand and moving through the debris, hearing people calling for help as water poured from the ceiling. After they got out, he saw that different parts of the compound had been attacked.

Araghchi was taken to the foreign ministry by a passerby because his official car had been damaged. He explained that for three days, they were cut off from communication, trying to find out who was alive and who had died. He added that the enemy tried to stop them by targeting the leadership, but they failed.

Araghchi stated that Iran had prepared for such an attack and had plans ready to close the vital Strait of Hormuz if the supreme leader was targeted. The code name for this plan was “Code 110”, referring to the part of Iran’s constitution that details the supreme leader’s powers.

Araghchi explained that the US decided to attack because it believed Iran’s government was weakened. This weakness was thought to be due to recent setbacks for Iran’s allies in Syria and Lebanon, and public protests at home. He admitted that the speed and size of these protests had surprised him.

He also said that regional governments had advised Donald Trump against war. They argued that attacking Iran would not be easy, unlike a raid on Venezuela. Araghchi stated that Iran is different, supported by thousands of years of civilisation and strong religious beliefs, which make it difficult to defeat.

Araghchi told the journalist that Iran had warned neighbouring governments that any attack would result in retaliation against targets in the region. He said, for example, that if Israel attacked Iran’s nuclear sites, Iran would attack Israel’s. He also mentioned that Iran would strike US bases in the region if their missiles could not reach America, and would stop oil sales in the region if Iran’s oil facilities were hit.

He added that warnings given to the Turkish government had led Ankara to block a plan by Trump to support a Kurdish uprising from Iraq into Iran. Araghchi said that Turkey’s foreign minister took a firm stance, and these efforts foiled the plot.

Araghchi also mentioned that Iran was working to create disagreements between the US and Israel, noting that conflicts in their objectives could be exploited.

He explained that after Israel’s 12-day bombing campaign against Iran in 2025, Iran had improved its missile systems. This reduced the time needed to make a military base ready again after an attack from many hours to under an hour.

Discussing the choice between diplomacy and war, Araghchi said that Iran does not engage in conflict unless the consequences of not fighting are worse than the consequences of fighting.