Tehran, July 19 (ANI): Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi has claimed that the bombing of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s residence was carried out through a “security hole” that remains active, alleging that the breach allowed the United States and Israel to obtain sensitive information and influence decision-making during the conflict.
Speaking in the documentary War Adventure 2, Araghchi said, “The bombing of the residence took place through a security hole, and this security hole still exists. This security hole also has an impact on the direction of decision-making.”
He claimed that the United States and Israel had prior knowledge of meetings involving Iran’s senior leadership.
“In my opinion, the important issue is that the enemy knew about these meetings, and the reason for that is probably the security hole that may still exist and that the security forces are looking for. I believe that this security hole is not only active in infiltrating and obtaining information, but also in directing decisions and directing our psychological space,” Araghchi said.
The Iranian foreign minister said the attackers were aware of the former Supreme Leader’s routine and selected the timing of the strike accordingly.
“I believe that they knew that the gentleman was in his office every morning and that the target was within reach. The enemies realised that the commanders’ meeting was being held near him, and for this reason, they chose that moment to attack,” he said.
Rejecting claims that negotiations with the United States contributed to the outbreak of the conflict, Araghchi said the war was initiated by the other side after diplomacy failed to achieve its objectives.
“It was not my command. The start of the war was a decision by the other side, and we wanted to take the command in a direction other than war. It is not true to think that negotiations caused the war; negotiations were not my personal decision at all, but a collective decision,” he said.
Araghchi said Iran’s refusal to alter its negotiating position led to military action.
“The other side tried diplomacy and emphasised zero enrichment from the beginning. We resisted in this regard, and when they saw that they could not achieve their desire through negotiations, they started a war. Therefore, our insistence on our positions in negotiations caused the other side to try war, which failed,” he said.
On calls to continue the conflict, Araghchi said the decision to end the fighting was taken collectively through Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
“The Supreme National Security Council made this decision, and the Supreme National Security Council’s approvals are also clear as to when they will be implemented,” he said.
Araghchi also claimed that a regional leader had warned him before the conflict that Iran’s leadership was being targeted.
“One of the regional leaders happily told me that war was certain and asked us not to respond because they were targeting the leadership. I said that any point in Iran that is attacked will be met with a reciprocal response,” he said.
He further claimed that the United States believed removing Iran’s leadership would lead to the collapse of the country’s political system.
“Later, the US told the countries in the region to endure for a month, the war will end, and after that, the issue will end forever. The experience of Venezuela had given the US the wrong analysis that if the leadership is eliminated, the system will collapse,” Araghchi said.
He added that Iran had been warned by friendly countries that the country was different and that removing its leadership would not necessarily destabilise the system.
“Although we did not neglect the military aspect in the 40-day war, we neglected to protect political officials,” he said.
Araghchi said he and his colleagues remained at the Foreign Ministry throughout the conflict.
“During the 40-day war, my deputies, colleagues, and I did not leave the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building. There was no safe place,” he said.
He added that he continued communicating with foreign ministers, Iranian embassies, and other officials despite security risks.
“I had to make all my calls to foreign ministers, interviews, calls to our own embassies. The only thing that somewhat lowered the risk factor was that we spent hours during the day driving around the city,” he said.
Araghchi also said he attended meetings in underground facilities but did not stay there permanently.
“I went to the tunnel once or twice for meetings, but I didn’t stay in the tunnel. There are a lot of tunnels. There are also a number of fortified buildings, but since there may be another war, let’s keep these for that time,” he said. (ANI)
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