WASHINGTON: Iran foreign minister said on Saturday that the country’s supreme leader and senior leadership remained safe following coordinated strikes by Israel and the United States (US), amid rising tensions in the region.
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Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was alive and unharmed after the attacks, which targeted multiple locations across Iran. Speaking in an interview with NBC News from Tehran, Araghchi said that, to his knowledge, “all high-ranking officials are alive,” dismissing concerns about any leadership losses.
The strikes marked a significant escalation in the long-running tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States, raising fears of a broader regional conflict. Iranian officials have described the attacks as acts of aggression, while emphasizing their readiness to respond.
Araghchi said Iran had been in contact with Gulf countries to clarify its position and reassure regional partners. He explained that Iran did not intend to target neighboring states, but was instead responding to American military installations as part of what he described as self-defence.
“We have explained to them that we have no intention to attack them, but we are actually attacking the American bases in the act of self defence,” he said.
Despite the escalation, Iran signaled openness to diplomatic engagement. Araghchi noted that there was currently no direct communication between Tehran and Washington but indicated that Iran remained willing to pursue de-escalation if the United States sought dialogue.
“If Americans want to talk to us, they know how they can contact me,” he said, adding that Iran was “certainly interested in de-escalation.”
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The developments have intensified concerns among international observers, who fear the confrontation could destabilize the Middle East further. Regional governments have urged restraint, warning that continued military actions risk triggering wider instability and undermining ongoing diplomatic efforts.