Israeli airstrike targeted Iranian President Pezeshkian in assassination attempt: Report

Israeli strike targeted high-level Iranian security meeting

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was reportedly the target of an Israeli airstrike on June 15, amid the ongoing Iran–Israel conflict. According to the IRGC-linked Fars News Agency, he was lightly injured on June 16 during the strike.

An Israeli airstrike on reportedly targeted a high-level meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council in Tehran, aiming to assassinate President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei, and other senior officials, according to Iran’s IRGC-linked Fars News Agency.

The strike, allegedly involving six missiles, was designed to block the exits of the building and trap the officials inside, similar in execution to previous operations attributed to Israel. The attack caused power outages on the lower floors, where the officials were gathered, and disrupted airflow.

President Pezeshkian reportedly suffered a minor leg injury, while others also sustained injuries while fleeing. The group managed to escape through a pre-arranged emergency hatch after the building’s exits were destroyed.

The incident is under investigation, with Iranian authorities suspecting an internal leak may have provided precise intelligence to Israeli forces.

Speaking to American commentator Tucker Carlson last week, Pezeshkian confirmed the attempt on his life. “They did try, yes. They acted accordingly, but they failed,” he said during a 28-minute interview.

The armed conflict between Iran and Israel erupted on June 13, 2025, when Israel launched surprise strikes on major Iranian military and nuclear facilities. The attacks were backed by US strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, escalating tensions amid the ongoing Gaza war and wider regional unrest.