Iranian Foreign Minister Claims Khamenei and Pezeshkian Are Still Alive
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says senior Iranian leaders remain in place following the US and Israeli strikes on February 28, telling NBC that “almost all officials are safe and sound and alive.”
He acknowledged possible losses among military officers, saying, “We may have lost one or two commanders, but that is not a big problem. We are actually managing it. We are handling the situation.”
In launching strikes on other countries across the Middle East, Araqchi claimed Iran was not seeking to widen the conflict, adding: “We have no intention of attacking them, but we are attacking the American bases in self-defense.”
He also criticized the strikes for coming in the middle of negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.
When asked directly about the status of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masud Pezeshkian he said: “As far as I know, yes, they are alive -- and the head of the judiciary [Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei] as well and the speaker of parliament [Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf]. All high-ranking officials are alive. And the secretary of the National Security Council [Ali Larijani]. Everybody is in position and we are handling this situation.”
Images from Tehran after US and Israeli strikes on February 28 show people waiting in lines at gas stations. They also depict some protests and heavy traffic on the streets of the Iranian capital, as well as people looking for shelter.
Gas Lines, Protests, And Heavy Traffic In Tehran After US And Israeli Strikes
Images captured on February 28 show fires burning in streets across Tehran following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Iranian state TV said a school in the city of Minab was also damaged, and there have been unconfirmed reports of multiple fatalities.
UN Security Council To Hold Emergency Meeting
The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting today following US and Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on countries in the region.
The UN said the session, scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. New York time, will address the “situation in the Middle East.”
France and Bahrain had called for the meeting, and RFE/RL's Radio Farda says Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, had also made a separate request for a similar session.
Zelenskyy Says Iranians Have A Chance To Oust 'Terrorist Regime' In Tehran
- By RFE/RL
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the Iranian people have an opportunity "to get rid of the terrorist regime" in Tehran after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
"It is only fair to give the Iranian people a chance to get rid of the terrorist regime, to remove it and guarantee the safety of all nations that have suffered from terror originating in Iran," Zelenskyy said in a video address published on February 28.
He added that it was "important that the United States is determined," adding that "whenever America is determined, global criminals weaken."
Tehran has long been an ally of Russia, supplying it with military equipment and technology and fueling Moscow’s war effort. According to Zelenskyy, Russia's military used at least 57,000 Iranian-made Shahed drones in attacks on his country, including against its civilian and energy infrastructure.
Earlier on February 28, a statement published by Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said "the reason for the current events is precisely the violence and arbitrariness of the Iranian regime."
Reports: Iranian Defense Minister, Revolutionary Guards Commander Killed In Strikes
Iranian Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps commander Mohammed Pakpur are though to have died in Israeli attacks, two sources familiar with Israel's military operations and one regional source said, according to Reuters.
Earlier, The Times of Israel said Israeli officials assessed that Pakpur, Nasirzadeh, and Iran’s intelligence chief were likely killed in the strikes.
Trump Spoke With Netanyahu
US President Donald Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone today and will continue to closely monitor the Iranian situation with his national-security team, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said.
Reuters: Strait Of Hormuz Reportedly Closed
Reuters is reporting that the Strait of Hormuz, through which an estimated 20 percent of the world's oil transits, has been closed.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said on Saturday that it received multiple reports from vessels operating in the Gulf saying they had received messages on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
There was no immediate confirmation from Iran.
With its extensive and powerful naval forces, Iran has substantial practical influence over access to the strait enabling it to disrupt or threaten shipping. Here is an explainer from June last year on just why the strait matters so much:
New Reported Wave Of Attacks
RFE/RL's Radio Farda has received reports of explosions being heard in the cities of Tehran, Karaj, and Garmdareh.
News agencies inside Iran have reported that a loud explosion was heard in the capital, Tehran, on the evening of February 28.
Similar reports of explosions or blasts have emerged from multiple other cities across Iran, according to independent news sources.
Dubai's Landmark Island In Smoke Amid Iranian Strikes
Huge pillar of smoke rose from Dubai's famous landmark -- the man-made island, Palm Jumeirah.
As Iran carries out retaliatory strikes in the region following US and Israeli attacks, at least four people were injured in the incident, the Dubai government press service reported.
