Photo: Reuters / Tehran after the attacks
The tension in the Middle East has entered a new and extremely dangerous stage. According to an Israeli official speaking to Reuters, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Massoud Pezişkin were among the targets during the joint strikes of Israel and the United States on Iranian territory. However, the exact result of these strikes, in particular, the consequences related to these two high-ranking officials, remains unclear.
A source familiar with the situation previously told Reuters that Khamenei was not in Tehran during the attack and had been evacuated to a safe location. This has further intensified various assumptions, questions, and concerns about where the most important figure of the Iranian political system is currently.
A source close to Iranian authorities said that several high-ranking commanders of the Revolutionary Guard and political officials may have been killed as a result of the strikes. Reuters, citing three sources, also reported the deaths of the Iranian Defense Minister and the Revolutionary Guard Commander in a separate report. At the same time, some claims have not yet been fully confirmed independently.
Meanwhile, Iranian media are reporting that the country's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, is alive. So, no matter how large-scale the blows in Tehran are, the fates of all high-ranking officials are not the same, and a mixed, contradictory picture still persists in the information space. Information about events in Iran is being updated rapidly, therefore it is necessary to approach every report with caution.
The satellite imagery data provided by The New York Times further illustrates the seriousness of the situation. According to the report, black smoke and traces of widespread destruction were observed in the area of the protective complex of Khamenei in Tehran.
Photo: Airbus
Images taken by Airbus on Saturday morning show buildings collapsing in the complex, which usually serves as Khomeini's residence and a reception area for high-ranking officials. But these footage do not mean that Khamenei himself was there.
Other sources report that the attacks also targeted the area where former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad resides. However, accurate and reliable information about his whereabouts during the explosions was not immediately provided. Therefore, this part is currently being assessed more as a claim in the rapid information flow.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86 years old, has held the highest political and religious power in the country as Iran's supreme leader since 1989. He is considered the main pillar of Iranian state governance as a person who has great influence over the branches of government, military structures, and the judicial system. Therefore, any possible blow directed against it is perceived as an event that will shake the politics of the entire region.
Another important background mentioned in the reports is the June 2025 strikes. At that time, it was also reported that Iran's important nuclear and missile facilities suffered heavy losses following Israeli and US attacks, as well as the deaths of several individuals close to Khomeini and Revolutionary Guard commanders. After these events, there were reports that Khamenei had switched to a more closed and protected regime.
In short, today's strikes are seen not only as a military operation, but also as a tremendous pressure that has reached the highest level of Iranian power. The biggest question remains open: what will happen to those targeted, what will be Tehran's next step, and to what extent can these attacks lead to further confrontation in the Middle East?
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