Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the country’s top leadership remains intact following large-scale strikes by the United States and Israel.
Speaking to US media, he said Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was alive “as far as I know” and that all senior officials were safe after the attacks.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump had claimed that Iranian leaders were killed in the strikes, a statement not confirmed by Iranian authorities.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelStrikes Raise Fears of Wider Conflict
The strikes, carried out on Saturday, have heightened tensions across the Middle East and prompted concerns about a broader regional confrontation.
Trump said the operation was aimed at weakening Iran’s military capabilities, warning that US casualties were possible.
Iran Signals Response and Diplomacy
Araghchi said Iran had reached out to Gulf states to reassure them it had no intention of targeting their territories, describing Tehran’s actions as focused on US bases in self-defence.
He added that although there is currently no direct communication with Washington, Iran remains open to dialogue. “If Americans want to talk to us, they know how they can contact me,” he said, indicating an interest in de-escalation.
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Un Calls For Urgent De-Escalation
The United Nations Security Council is expected to hold an emergency session later on Saturday following requests from multiple countries, including Russia and China.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged an immediate cessation of hostilities, warning that continued escalation could have serious consequences for civilians and regional stability.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
