A spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian are both “safe and sound” following the coordinated US-Israel strikes launched on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
The statement, reported by outlets including ABC News and other international media, came from Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, who reassured that the top leadership remains unharmed despite reports of strikes targeting high-profile sites, including areas near Khamenei’s compound in Tehran.
This reassurance counters earlier speculation and Israeli media claims suggesting Khamenei and Pezeshkian were among primary targets in the opening wave of airstrikes. Some Israeli sources indicated “growing indications” of success against leadership figures, while satellite imagery showed damage and smoke at Khamenei’s fortified compound. However, Iranian officials have consistently maintained that the supreme leader was relocated to a secure location prior to the attacks, and most high-ranking figures remain intact except for possible losses among commanders.
The strikes, described by President Donald Trump as “major combat operations”, aim to dismantle Iran’s missile industry, navy, terrorist proxies, and nuclear capabilities. Iran has retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israel and US bases in the Gulf (including Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain), leading to explosions, airspace closures, and civilian casualties reported in various Iranian locations.