Amid intensifying Israeli strikes, Iran’s foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian are alive, according to remarks reported by the Associated Press following an interview with NBC News.
Speaking during the ongoing escalation between Israel and Iran, the minister said that “as far as I know,” both leaders were safe despite reports of widespread strikes targeting military and strategic sites across Iran.
The statement comes amid heightened uncertainty over the scale and impact of recent attacks, which have fuelled speculation about possible attempts to destabilise Iran’s leadership structure.
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'We are handling this situation, everything fine'
Speaking live, Araghchi also says two commanders have died in the strikes, but senior officials in the regime have survived.
"All high-ranking officials are alive," he was quoted as saying by The Times of Israel. "So everybody is now in its position and we are handling this situation, and everything is fine."
The foreign minister’s comments appear aimed at reassuring both domestic and international audiences that Iran’s political leadership remains intact despite the mounting pressure.
The remarks also come as tensions continue to escalate across the Middle East, with missile launches, airspace warnings and military deployments reported in several Gulf countries. Iran has vowed retaliation for the attacks, while Western powers have urged restraint to prevent the conflict from expanding into a broader regional war.
Officials have not indicated whether Iran’s top leadership has been moved to secure locations, but security measures around key government sites are believed to have been significantly tightened.
The destroyed building is a primary school for girls in the south of Iran. It was bombed in broad daylight, when packed with young pupils.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) February 28, 2026
Dozens of innocent children have been murdered at this site alone.
These crimes against the Iranian People will not go unanswered. pic.twitter.com/AVqiuolgWm
'Mission Impossible'
When asked about US President Donald Trump's pre-recorded statements after the attacks, Araghchi called efforts to change the regime "Mission Impossible".
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"You cannot change the regime while millions of people are supporting this so-called regime," he said, and added that Tehran is "certainly interested in de-escalation".
On Saturday morning, Israel launched what it called a "preemptive" attack against Iran named "Lion’s Roar". They declared a “special and immediate” state of emergency across the country.
Trump later stated that his forces began "major combat operations" in Iran to "protect the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime".
These attacks occur while Washington and Tehran have been discussing Iran’s nuclear program with Oman’s help. A new round of talks in Geneva ended on Thursday.
