Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi Reveals Details Before Khamenei Assassination Strike

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi disclosed new details about the hours leading up to the attack that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In a segment from the Iranian program "War Story 2," Araghchi recounted that on the morning of Saturday, February 28, he warned President Masoud Pezeshkian of a looming war atmosphere. Around 9:00 a.m., Araghchi met with Ali Asghar Mir Hejazi, a senior figure in Khamenei's office, to deliver a Geneva negotiation report, a routine procedure. During this meeting, the complex was attacked, with the strike reportedly beginning around 9:40 a.m. Araghchi was inside one of the targeted buildings but survived as the meeting room remained intact.

Araghchi's testimony highlights a significant intelligence failure on Iran's part, as the attackers had precise knowledge of the gathering of regime leaders and Khamenei's presence. According to The New York Times, the CIA tracked Khamenei's movements for months and provided Israel with exact information on his location on the day of the strike. While Araghchi claimed Iran was not strategically surprised and had prepared for possible war, the tactical breach allowed U.S. and Israeli intelligence to penetrate the inner circle of Iran's leadership and time the attack when top officials were assembled.

This revelation underscores the depth of the security lapse within Iran's regime and the effectiveness of U.S.-Israeli intelligence cooperation in targeting the highest levels of Iranian leadership.