Iranian Foreign Minister Admits Ongoing Israeli Infiltration After Khamenei Assassination

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged that the Iranian regime continues to suffer from deep Israeli infiltration within its internal systems, more than a year after the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In a rare admission during a Persian-language interview, Araghchi revealed that the severe security breach enabling Israel to strike Iran's leadership "probably still exists." This ongoing intelligence vulnerability remains a major concern for Tehran's top officials, who fear hostile elements may still operate at the highest levels, passing sensitive information to Israel.

Araghchi recounted the dramatic events of February 28, when he warned then-President Masoud Pezeshkian early that morning that the atmosphere was akin to war. Around 9:00 a.m., Araghchi met with Ali Asghar Mir Hejazi, former aide to Khamenei, shortly before the Israeli attack targeted Iran's primary decision-making centers. The strike resulted in the killing of Supreme Leader Khamenei and 40 senior commanders, hitting the political and security leadership precisely during simultaneous urgent meetings of the Strategic Foreign Relations Council and the Defense Council.

The Foreign Minister explained that holding concurrent meetings was common at the time, but the enemy's knowledge of these gatherings indicated a critical intelligence leak. He stressed that this breach, which allowed Israel to execute the deadly operation, "probably still exists," highlighting Tehran's ongoing struggle with espionage and intelligence failures within its ranks. This admission underscores the regime's persistent vulnerability to Israeli intelligence activities despite heightened security measures since the attack.

Iranian officials have not publicly detailed any measures taken to close this breach, leaving open questions about the regime's ability to prevent future infiltrations. The revelation comes amid continued tensions between Iran and Israel, with Tehran remaining wary of further covert operations against its leadership and infrastructure.