Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was reportedly injured in Israeli airstrikes targeting a covert facility in Tehran last month. According to Fars, an Iranian state news agency affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, the strikes occurred on June 16 during an emergency session of the Supreme National Security Council, resulting in Pezeshkian sustaining leg injuries while escaping through an emergency shaft.
As Iran continues to ramp up investigations into suspected Israeli infiltrations, the claims have not been independently verified, and Israel has not issued any official response to the report. Footage shared on social media during a recent military conflict showed persistent airstrikes in northwestern Tehran, where it has now emerged that an underground facility housing high-ranking officials was struck.
The Fars report suggests that all entry and exit points to the facility were obstructed by bombs, effectively isolating Pezeshkian and his colleagues at the time. The facility's ventilation system was also compromised, leading to a loss of electricity; however, Pezeshkian managed to escape unharmed.
This incident follows Pezeshkian's accusations against Israel, asserting that there was an assassination attempt on his life, which were denied by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who stated that "regime change" was not a goal of their military operations.
In an earlier phase of the conflict, many prominent IRGC and army commanders were killed by Israeli strikes, catching Iranian leaders off guard and leaving them struggling with decision-making for at least 24 hours following the initial assaults. Israeli officials later disclosed that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was also a target; however, he was successfully relocated to a secure site, evading further attacks.
The Israeli military executed a surprise operation against Iranian nuclear and military sites on June 13, based on their belief that Iran was advancing towards nuclear weapons capability. Iran, however, maintains its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes. Following this escalation, the US military also conducted airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which President Donald Trump described as having "obliterated" targeted locations, amidst a backdrop of conflicting intelligence assessments.
As discussions and investigations unfold regarding intelligence operations and military strategies employed by Israel, the situation remains tense and dynamic, with ramifications likely to affect regional stability moving forward.
