Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi Details Killing of Khamenei and Iran’s Response Plans

Nearly five months after the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during the opening strike of the "Roar of the Lion" operation, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi publicly described the attack and how he has evaded assassination attempts since then. In an interview with an Iranian journalist cited by The Guardian, Araghchi revealed he has not yet met the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, but said his appointment sends a strong message that Iran’s policies and ideals remain unchanged.

Araghchi expressed skepticism about negotiations with the U.S., but said they were necessary even with only a 10% chance of success to demonstrate Iran’s diplomatic efforts. He claimed Iran offered a deal on its nuclear program during the last Geneva talks, but the atmosphere in Washington quickly turned hostile. Regarding Khamenei’s killing, Araghchi said Israel had intelligence on the meetings, indicating a security gap Iran must fix. He recounted the chaos after the third explosion near Khamenei’s office, describing how the building collapsed around them and they struggled to determine who survived.

He emphasized that despite the attack, the enemy failed to paralyze Iran’s leadership. Iran had prepared for such an attack in advance, including a contingency plan to close the Strait of Hormuz, codenamed "Code 110," referencing constitutional powers of the Supreme Leader. Araghchi also claimed the U.S. decided to attack believing Iran’s government was weakened by internal protests and strikes on its proxies, but regional governments advised against war.

He warned neighboring countries that any attack on Iran’s nuclear or oil facilities would provoke retaliatory strikes on regional targets, including Israeli and U.S. bases in the area. Araghchi said Iran aims to deepen divisions between the U.S. and Israel, exploiting conflicting interests. He concluded by stating Iran prefers diplomacy but will fight if the cost of not fighting exceeds the cost of war.