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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was reportedly injured in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a high-level government meeting in Tehran during last month’s 12-day conflict, according to Iranian state media.
Strike Hit Emergency Security Meeting
The attack allegedly occurred on June 16, when Pezeshkian and other top Iranian officials were gathered at an underground facility in Tehran for an emergency session of the Supreme National Security Council. The meeting, reported by Iran’s Fars News Agency, came amid escalating tensions with Israel.
According to the report, six precision-guided bombs struck the facility during the session. The airstrike destroyed all main entry and exit points, knocked out the ventilation system, and cut power to the bunker. Despite the severity of the attack, Pezeshkian and several others escaped through an emergency shaft. He is said to have suffered a leg injury in the process.
Pezeshkian: “They Did Try to Assassinate Me”
The airstrike adds context to Pezeshkian’s recent claims made in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, where he confirmed an attempt on his life.
“They did try, yes,” Pezeshkian said. “They acted accordingly, but they failed. I was in a meeting… thanks to the intelligence by the spies that they had, they tried to bombard the area in which we were holding that meeting.”
Israel Denies Assassination Attempt
In response, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant denied that the offensive was aimed at regime change or assassination. He maintained that the 12-day campaign was focused strictly on dismantling Iran’s nuclear weapons infrastructure.
During the conflict, Israeli strikes reportedly targeted several sites in Tehran, resulting in the deaths of senior Iranian commanders and damage to key military and government facilities.
Iran Launches Espionage Crackdown
In the aftermath of the airstrike, Iranian officials have launched an internal investigation into how Israeli intelligence was able to locate the secret meeting. Reports say Iran has carried out a nationwide crackdown on espionage, with over 700 arrests and at least six deaths linked to the sweep, according to officials and human rights groups.
Security Council and Supreme Leader Targeted
The Supreme National Security Council, which Pezeshkian chairs, is Iran’s most powerful decision-making body after the Supreme Leader. Sources also suggest that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was a potential target during the conflict, prompting his sudden disappearance from public view during the height of the war.
