Iran leadership ‘safe and unharmed’ after US-Israeli strikes hit Tehran: Reports
Tehran: Iran’s Fars News Agency, which is closely affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported Saturday that all high-ranking government officials are "safe and unharmed" following a series of joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on the capital.
The report, intended to project stability amid "Operation Roaring Lion," stated that the leadership across the executive, legislative, and judicial branches remains intact. Despite reports from Israeli sources that the strikes specifically targeted the residences and offices of the country’s top figures, Iranian state media countered that President Masoud Pezeshkian is "safe and sound."
Status of the Leadership
According to the Fars report, senior officials, including the heads of the armed forces and Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, are in "perfect health."
While smoke was seen rising from Tehran’s Pasteur district, which houses the compound of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sources close to the establishment indicated that the Ayatollah had been moved to a "secure location" prior to the commencement of the daylight raids.
Retaliatory Posture
The confirmation of the leadership's safety came as the IRGC announced it had initiated retaliatory strikes against U.S. and Israeli interests in the region. Fars News Agency detailed several counter-operations, including:
- Ballistic missile launches targeting Israeli territory.
- Coordinated strikes on U.S. military installations, including the 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed the sentiment of resilience, stating on national television that while the "criminal aggression" had caused civilian casualties, including a reported strike on a school in southern Iran, the regime's command structure remains fully operational and prepared for a "decisive" response.