Araghchi says security breach behind Khamenei assassination remains and affects decision-making

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the security breach that led to the assassination of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei remains unresolved and continues to influence Iran’s policymaking and decision-making process.

According to the Iran International website, Araghchi made the remarks during an interview on the programme The Story of the War. He said he was at Khamenei’s headquarters on 28 February when the site came under attack.

Araghchi said the attack on the headquarters was carried out through a security breach, adding: “That breach still exists, and it also affects the direction and mechanisms of decision-making.”

Recalling the moments before the attack, he said: “That day, as we were leaving the headquarters, I asked Khamenei’s deputy chief of staff, Ali Asghar Hejazi, whether the Supreme Leader was there. He replied that he did not know.”

He said the complex came under attack while he was presenting a report on the negotiations to Hejazi and discussing the security situation with him.

Araghchi added: “Hejazi was pulled from beneath the rubble, while his secretary was killed in such a way that no trace of his body could be found. Within a matter of seconds, the headquarters was hit three times.”

He also said he had not met Mojtaba Khamenei during that period, adding that only a small number of people had been able to see him.

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