Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sustained a minor leg injury during an Israeli missile strike on June 16, which reportedly targeted a high-security building in western Tehran, according to a semi-official news agency.
The airstrike occurred during a meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, which was attended by several top officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei, and other senior leaders. The IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency reported the incident on Sunday, highlighting growing concerns among Iranian authorities over a potential infiltrator, given the precision and timing of the attack.
Sources said the Israeli strike was designed to mirror the assassination strategy used against Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut. A total of six missiles were launched, specifically targeting the entry and exit points of the building to cut off escape routes and disrupt ventilation systems.
At the time of the attack, the officials were reportedly located in the lower levels of the building. The missile impact caused a temporary power outage, plunging the area into confusion. However, an emergency hatch that had been prepared in advance allowed the officials to evacuate. Several sustained minor injuries while escaping, including President Pezeshkian.
In a prior interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson, President Pezeshkian confirmed that Israeli forces had attempted to assassinate him. "They did try, yes… They acted accordingly, but they failed," he said.
The strike took place near the Shahrak-e Gharb neighbourhood in western Tehran, as confirmed by a separate report from *Iran International*.
This attack is believed to be part of a broader 12-day conflict, during which Israeli forces reportedly killed several senior Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. Those killed include IRGC Commander Hossein Salami, Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri, IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh, and other top-ranking officers.
Earlier reports also claimed that Israel had planned to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the same conflict, but the opportunity reportedly never presented itself.
With IANS inputs