Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, provided details about the US-Israeli airstrike that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war in an interview with journalist Javad Mogouyi. Araghchi confirmed that Israel and the United States possessed accurate intelligence regarding the location of Iranian leadership at the targeted compound, enabling them to strike senior officials gathered for meetings at multiple government facilities including the ministry of intelligence and defense council.
Araghchi recounted his experience during the attack, describing three successive explosions that destroyed portions of the building while he was reporting to Khamenei’s deputy chief of staff. He and the deputy chief of staff escaped the full force of the blast, though the secretary in the immediate vicinity was killed. Araghchi was subsequently transported to the foreign ministry by a passerby after his official vehicle was destroyed. He noted that the attack prompted significant uncertainty during the following three days as officials worked to determine casualties.
Regarding prior diplomatic efforts, Araghchi stated he had doubted negotiations with the United States earlier in the year would succeed, though he characterized them as necessary to demonstrate Iran’s commitment to diplomacy. He confirmed Iran had presented a nuclear program proposal during final talks in Geneva but said the diplomatic climate shifted dramatically after Oman’s foreign minister reported a sudden change in Washington’s approach toward greater military aggression.
Araghchi outlined Iran’s preparations and strategic responses to the conflict. He indicated Iran had contingency plans including the potential closure of the Hormuz strait if the supreme leader was targeted, referenced as “Code 110” in operational planning. He also discussed Iran’s warnings to neighboring governments that any attack on Iranian nuclear facilities would trigger strikes on Israeli nuclear targets, and that attacks on oil infrastructure would prevent regional oil sales. He credited Turkey’s firm diplomatic position with blocking a US-backed plan to encourage Kurdish activities from Iraq into Iran.
Araghchi characterized the appointment of Khamenei’s son Mojtaba as the new leader as signaling continuity in regime policies. He noted Iran was working to exploit potential divisions between the United States and Israel, and mentioned that Iranian missile capabilities had improved significantly following Israel’s 12-day bombing campaign in 2025, reducing base reactivation time substantially.
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