Tehran: The US and Israel have launched a major combat attack on Iran, the Israeli defence minister said on Saturday. Iran has responded swiftly and has targeted key Israeli cities with a barrage of Ballistic missiles.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced a first wave of missile and drone attacks against Israel in retaliation for the strikes, according to the Tasnim news agency.
Israel’s military said it had protectively sounded air raid sirens in areas across the country “to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward Israel” in retaliation.
“We have started an extensive military operation in Iran; we will destroy the threat from the cruel Iranian regime,” the US President said in a video statement.
Israel’s Channel 12 claimed, citing an Israeli security source, that the attack underway in Iran is a joint US-Israel operation.
[2: 05 PM] Oil tanker attacked near the coast of Oman
An oil tanker sailing under the Palau flag, the Skylight, was reportedly attacked approximately five nautical miles off Oman’s Musandam, according to Oman’s maritime security centre.
The attack resulted in injuries to four people, and the entire crew of 20 was evacuated.
Details remain limited, but the incident follows an earlier event where two drones targeted the port of Duqm, as reported by Oman’s state media, injuring one foreign worker.
[1: 45 PM] PM Shehbaz Sharif ‘postpones’ Russia visit amid regional tensions
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reportedly postponed his planned visit to Russia in view of the rapidly evolving and exceptional situation in the Middle East and the wider region.
According to sources at the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz Sharif was due to depart for a two-day official visit to Moscow on Monday (2 March). However, given the prevailing tensions and security challenges, the trip has been deferred for the time being.
[1:15 PM] Scenes from Tehran
[1:05 PM] Iran’s 24-hour Internet Blackout After Ayatollah Khamenei’s Killing
Iran’s internet blackout has now passed the 24-hour mark, with national connectivity flatlining at 1% of ordinary levels, according to Netblocks.
The measure limits civic engagement at a key moment for the country’s future after the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei in US and Israeli airstrikes on Saturday.
[12: 35 PM] Israel claims to have dropped over 1,200 bombs on Iran in one day
Israel’s air force says it dropped more than 1,200 munitions on Iran over the past day in its joint attack with the US.
Among the sites attacked in Iran was an elementary girls’ school in Minab, a city in the Hormozgan province of southern Iran, where at least 148 people have been reported killed and dozens more injured.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said “dozens of innocent children” were murdered in the attack on the school, which would “not go unanswered”.
[11:40 AM] Iranian TV confirms military Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi is dead
Iran’s military Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi has been killed, state media said on Sunday.
The news is another blow to Iran, after the death of Khamenei was confirmed on Sunday along with top officials Ali Shamkhani and Mohammed Pakpour.
[11: 35 AM] Protester storm US Consulate Karachi
At least five injured as protests have erupted outside the United States Consulate shortly after news spread of the reported assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israel strike on Iran.
According to details, a large number of protesters assembled near the consulate in Karachi, chanting slogans and attempting to move towards the building.
Police used tear gas and baton charges in an effort to disperse the crowd. The situation escalated further when some protesters allegedly broke through the main gate and entered the consulate’s outer premises.
[11:13 AM] Iran to set up temporary leadership council Sunday
Iran’s top security official, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani, said a temporary leadership council will be set up on Sunday, Iranian state TV reported.
He also warned that secessionist groups will face a harsh response if they attempt any action, as he accused the U.S. and Israel of seeking to plunder and disintegrate Iran, state TV said.
[10: 46 AM] Trump warns Iran: ‘THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT’
The U.S. will hit Iran “with a force that has never been seen before” if the Middle East nation retaliates, Trump said on Sunday.
“Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever been hit before,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
He added, “THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!”
[10:04 AM] IRGC attacks US Bases in Middle East
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that American military bases in the Middle East are being targeted, alleging that 27 US installations across the region have come under attack.
The IRGC further claimed that explosions occurred near Erbil International Airport in Iraq, which it said is used by US and allied forces.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that at least 11 explosions were heard in Doha, the capital of Qatar.
Reports also suggested that multiple blasts were heard in Dubai, although there has been no immediate official confirmation regarding the nature or cause of the explosions.
[ 09: 48 AM] Air raid sirens sound across Israel
Shortly after 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) air raid sirens repeatedly sounded across Israel, warning residents of an incoming attack.
In Tel Aviv, a series of explosions were heard as Israel’s sophisticated air defense system sought to intercept the latest Iranian offensive.
There was no immediate reports of any damage or injuries.
[ 09: 26 AM] Iran continues retaliatory strikes against Israel
Despite death of Iran’s supreme leader, IRG continues attacking Israel in retaliatory strikes. One Israeli is dead and 20 are injured as per Israeli media reports.
[ 06: 59 AM] Revolutionary Guard mourns ‘great leader’ Khamenei
“We have lost a great leader and we are mourning him, a leader who was unique in in terms of purity of spirit, strength of faith, resourcefulness in affairs, courage in the face of the arrogant, and jihad in the path of God”, a statement from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said.
[06:47 AM] Muhammad Raza Arif appointed Iran president: Israeli media
According to Israeli media reports Muhammad Raza Arif has took charge as Iran president.
[05:53 AM] Ayatollah Khamenei dead in Israeli-American strikes: Iranian media
Iranian state media have confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed at his office in the Israeli-US attacks on Iran, following earlier reports of his killing by US and Israeli officials.
A 40-day mourning period for the longtime Iranian leader has been announced.
[03:44 AM] Iran envoy to UN slams civilian deaths as ‘war crime’
The Iranian ambassador to the United Nations on Saturday alleged the US and Israel had committed a “war crime,” saying their strikes had targeted civilian infrastructure and killed more than 100 children at a school, AFP reported.
“The number of innocent civilians continues to rise. This is not only an act of aggression, it is a war crime and a crime against humanity,” Amir Saeid Iravani told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
[2:46 AM] Iran Strikes Dubai International Airport
Dubai airport, the world’s busiest for international traffic, was damaged and four staff were injured in an “incident”, it said on Saturday following waves of Iranian missile attacks, AFP reported
“A concourse at Dubai International sustained minor damage in an incident, which was quickly contained,” Dubai Airports said in a statement, adding: “Due to contingency plans already in place, most of the terminals were previously cleared of passengers.”
Dubai authorities said debris from an intercepted drone caused a fire at the city’s famed luxury hotel the Burj Al Arab, according to a statement Sunday, following a wave of Iranian strikes launched at Gulf states.
“Authorities confirm that a drone was intercepted and debris caused a minor fire on the Burj Al Arab’s outer facade,” the Dubai Media Office wrote on its X account.
“Civil Defence teams responded immediately and brought the incident under control. No injuries have been reported.”
[1:42 AM] Trump claims Iran’s top leadership killed
US President Donald Trump has claimed the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.
In the post, President Trump stated that Khamenei was “unable to avoid our intelligence and highly sophisticated tracking systems” and suggested that other Iranian leaders had also been killed.
He described the situation as an opportunity for the Iranian people to “take back their country” and claimed that some members of Iran’s IRGC, military, security, and police forces were seeking immunity from the US.
Trump added that US military operations in the region would continue, describing the bombing campaign as “heavy and pinpoint” and saying it would persist as long as necessary to achieve “peace throughout the Middle East and, indeed, the world.”
Earlier, Trump also calimed in an interview with American television that most of Iran’s key decision makers have been killed.
US President Trump said that reports suggesting the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, appeared to be accurate.
He described the US strike on Iran as “very powerful”, adding that he was confident reports regarding Ayatollah Khamenei’s killing were correct. Trump also said the conflict with Iran could either be prolonged or conclude within a matter of days.
[1:20 AM] Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei killed, senior Israeli official claims- Reuters report
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who turned the country into a powerful anti-US. force and extended its military influence across the Middle East while crushing repeated domestic unrest, was killed in Israeli and U.S. strikes, a senior Israeli official told Reuters on Saturday.
[12:47] Iran strongly rejects Israel’s claims about Khamenei, says he is ‘commanding the field
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, is personally overseeing and directing the country’s war effort, according to reports in Iranian media.
[12:19] Israel’s Netanyahu says many signs that Khamenei ‘is no longer’
[12:07 AM] son-in-law and daughter-in-law of Iran’s Supreme Leader Martyred
The son-in-law and daughter-in-law of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, have been martyred, according to a statement issued by the Iranian embassy.
[11:20 PM] Iranian Red Crescent says more than 200 killed in US-Israeli strikes
The Iranian Red Crescent reported on Saturday evening that at least 201 people were killed and 747 wounded in strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran.
The organisation said “24 (of Iran’s 31) provinces were affected and the Red Crescent is in a state of alert”, in a statement published by the ISNA news agency. This is the first official Iranian toll from the strikes.
[10:13 PM] Iran’s revolutionary guards tell ships passage through Strait of Hormuz ‘not allowed’, EU naval
An official from the European Union’s naval mission Aspides said on Saturday that vessels have been receiving VHF transmission from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards saying “no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz”.
The strait is the world’s most vital oil export route, which connects the biggest Gulf oil producers, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
The official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said Iran had not formally confirmed any such order. Tehran has for years threatened to block the narrow waterway in retaliation for any attack on the Islamic Republic.
[8: 58 PM] Death toll from attack on school in Iran’s south rises to 85: judiciary
The death toll from an attack Saturday on a school in Iran’s south has risen to 85, the judiciary said, after the US and Israel launched strikes on the Islamic republic.
“The number of martyrs at the girls’ school in Minab has increased to 85,” the judiciary’s Mizan Online website quoted the area’s prosecutor’s office as saying.
[8: 37 PM] Khamenei is alive, Iran interested in de-escalation: foreign minister
Iran’s foreign minister said the country’s supreme leader was alive, along with all high-ranking officials, after Israel and the United States launched strikes across the country on Saturday.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was alive “as far as I know”, in an interview from Tehran with the US outlet, adding that “all high ranking officials are alive”.
Araghchi said he had been in contact with Gulf states and “explained for them that we have no intention to attack them but we are actually attacking the American bases in the act of self defence”.
He added that while there was no communication with Washington now, “if Americans wants to talk to us. They know how they can contact me. We are certainly interested for de-escalation”.
[8: 30 PM] UN calls emergency Security Council meeting after strikes on Iran
The UN Security Council called an emergency meeting Saturday after the US and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory strikes by Tehran.
The session due to start at 4:00 pm (2100 GMT) will address “the situation in the Middle East,” the United Nations said. The meeting was urged by France and Bahrain, according to the Israeli delegation to the world body.
[7: 52 PM] UN chief condemns Mideast ‘escalation,’ urges immediate end to hostilities
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday condemned the “escalation” of military violence in the Middle East and urged an immediate cessation of fighting.
[7: 41 PM] Iran defence minister, Guards commander killed in Israeli attacks, three sources say (Reuters)
Iran’s Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour are believed to have been killed in Israeli attacks, two sources familiar with Israel’s military operations and one regional source said.
[7:17 PM] China calls for ‘immediate halt’ to Iran escalation
China warned against any further escalation in the Middle East on Saturday, calling for an “immediate halt” to violence after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, which has retaliated with missiles.
“China calls for an immediate halt to military actions, urges avoiding further escalation of tensions, and encourages the resumption of dialogue and negotiations to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East,” Beijing’s foreign ministry said.
“Iran’s national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected,” it added.
[7:17 PM] 20 of Iran’s 31 provinces ‘affected in attacks’: Iran’s Red Crescent Society
More than 20 of Iran’s 31 provinces have been impacted by US and Israeli strikes launched on Saturday, Iran’s Red Crescent Society said.
[ 7:17 PM] Baghdad denounces strikes on Iran, warns against involving Iraq
Iraqi authorities denounced US-Israeli strikes on neighbouring Iran and warned against drawing Iraq into the conflict, after air strikes killed two people in the country’s south.
Sabah Al-Numan, the military spokesman for the prime minister, said that Iraq “condemned the unjustified aggression against the Islamic republic”, and “warned of the consequences of the blatant aggression” against Iraqi sites.
Israel and the United States launched strikes against Iran on Saturday, with the Islamic republic retaliating with barrages of missiles targeting Gulf states and Israel.
In Iraq, two people were killed Saturday in air strikes on a military base housing the powerful pro-Iran group Kataeb Hezbollah, which has threatened the US with an imminent response.
Earlier Saturday, Iraq said it had closed its airspace.
Witnesses and a military source told AFP that warplanes and missiles were seen flying through Iraqi airspace.
Numan warned against using Iraq’s airspace and territory “as a corridor or launching point for aggression against Iran”.
Iraq “equally rejects the use of its land or territorial waters as a means of dragging the country into the conflict”, he added.
Baghdad also called “for the immediate cessation of military operations” and urged powers, especially the US, to “act responsibly and contribute effectively to finding solutions away from the military option”.
[ 7:17 PM] Jordan strongly condemns Iran’s attacks on UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait
Jordan’s foreign ministry on Saturday strongly condemned Iran’s attacks on the kingdom as well as the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait, stressing the “need for restraint” in the conflict.
The ministry said in a statement it “condemned in the strongest terms Iran’s attack on Jordanian territory with ballistic missiles, as well as the attacks on the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Qatar and the State of Kuwait”.
The ministry underscored “the need for restraint and the adoption of diplomatic solutions and dialogue”.
[ 7:13 PM] Qatar ruler, Saudi crown prince urge ‘immediate halt’ to escalation on call: Qatari emir’s office
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Saturday urged a halt to escalation and return to dialogue after Iranian missiles targeted countries across the Gulf.
On a call “both sides emphasised the necessity of an immediate halt to any escalatory actions and a return to the dialogue table to preserve regional security and prevent a slide toward broader confrontations,” the Qatari ruler’s office said in a statement.
[ 6:18 PM] Toll from southern Iran school strike rises to 51: state TV
A strike that hit a school in southern Iran killed 51 students, state television reported Saturday, citing a local official who gave an updated toll.
“In this morning’s Israeli missile attack on a girls’ elementary school in the (Minab) county, 51 students have so far been killed and 60 students have been wounded,” the county governor said.
[5: 15 PM] Omani foreign minister urges US ‘not to get sucked in further’
Badr Albusaidi, the foreign minister of Oman, who had been mediating the recent rounds of indirect talks between the US and Iran.
In a social media post, Albusaidi said he was “dismayed” by today’s attacks.
“Active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined. Neither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this. And I pray for the innocents who will suffer,” he added.
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[4:53 PM] — Israel’s opposition reacts to Iran operation
Arab-Israeli opposition MK Ayman Odeh stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has decided that Israel will “live by the sword forever,” amid ongoing strikes by the Israeli Air Force and U.S. forces on Iran.
“Look after yourselves, because this government won’t do it for you,” Odeh warned, emphasizing that military action isn’t “the only way” and advocating for a regional solution that would bring “justice, peace, security, stability, and prosperity to all of us.”
Meanwhile, other opposition MKs showed less criticism of the joint operation, which started Saturday morning.
[4:44 PM] — Death toll from Israeli strike on Iranian elementary school surges to 40
The political, security, and social deputy governor of Hormozgan reported to Tasnim News that an Israeli strike directly hit a girls’ elementary school in Minab County during today’s attacks. So far, 40 students have been confirmed killed.
[4:20 PM] — American/Israeli air strikes on Supreme Leader Khamenei’s compound
A photo from the New York Times displays the damage caused by American/Israeli air strikes to Supreme Leader Khamenei’s compound in Tehran.
The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, plunging the Middle East into a new conflict that President Donald Trump said would end a security threat to the United States and give Iranians a chance to topple their rulers.
The strikes put nearby oil-producing Gulf Arab countries on edge as fears of escalation in the region grew, and Israel said Tehran responded by launching missiles towards Israel.
[3:48 PM] — Israeli assassination attempt failed
Israeli assessments indicate that the attempt to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei and the Iranian President has failed,’ – Channel 15
The first wave of strikes in what the Pentagon named “OPERATION EPIC FURY” mainly targeted Iranian officials, a source familiar with the matter said.
Earlier, an Israeli official said Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and President Masoud Pezeshkian were both targeted, but the result of the strikes was not clear. A source with knowledge of the matter had earlier told Reuters that Khamenei was not in Tehran and had been transferred to a secure location.
[3:34 PM] — Russia’s Medvedev says US negotiations were ‘a cover’
Russia has issued its first comments on the situation, with Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the country’s Security Council, sharply criticizing Donald Trump.
Medvedev sarcastically referred to the president as a peacemaker, showing his true face, claiming that all negotiations with Iran were merely a cover operation and that there was never any real intention to reach an agreement.
He framed the ongoing tensions as a test of patience, contrasting the 249-year history of the United States with the 2,500-year legacy of the Persian Empire, and suggested waiting a century to see which nation outlasts the other.
[3:32 PM] — Israel targets elementary school in Iran; 5 killed
Iran’s Pres TV reports that the political, security, and social deputy governor of Hormozgan said: A girls’ elementary school was directly hit in today’s Israeli attacks on Minab County, and so far five students have been killed. No injuries were reported.
[2:56 PM] — Blasts heard in Qatari capital
Iran’s foreign minister said Iran’s response would be to target all U.S. military bases in the region, according to the Iraqi foreign ministry.
Semi-official Iranian Fars news agency reported several U.S. bases in Kuwait, UAE, Qatar and Bahrain are under attack by Iran.
[2:48 PM] — Explosions reported in Riyadh, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi
Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Al-Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, and the fifth US base in Bahrain have been targeted by Iranian missile attacks, according to Iran’s Fars news agency. AFP news agency is also reporting explosions in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh as well.
[2:25 PM] — Israelis head for shelter as missiles launched from Iran
[2:09 PM] — Iran repeatedly denied pursuing nuclear weapons ahead of attacks
Iran has consistently denied any intentions of developing a nuclear bomb.
On Thursday, Iran’s President Pezeshkian refuted former President Trump’s accusations that Tehran was pursuing nuclear weapons, asserting that Iran will not possess such weapons.
Earlier this week, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi addressed the UN Conference on Disarmament, stating that Iran would “never seek nuclear weapons.”
He emphasized the importance of complete disarmament and advocated for the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
[1:53 PM] — Iran’s Interior Ministry urges citizens to remain calm
Iran’s Interior Ministry has said that the “criminal enemy, once again, has attacked our beloved homeland in violation of all international laws and during negotiations.”
According to the Tasnim news agency, the ministry has issued a statement directing governors across the country to recall previous instructions. It emphasized the need for prompt reporting on the situation in the provinces and the mobilization of all resources to address the urgent needs of the people.
[1:49 PM] — OPERATION EPIC FURY.’
The Pentagon says the strikes on Iran were named ‘OPERATION EPIC FURY.’
We have now heard from U.S. President Donald Trump. In a video posted on social media, he said:
- “A short time ago, the U.S. military began major combat operations in Iran.”
- “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
- Iran “can never have a nuclear weapon.”
- “We sought repeatedly to make a deal.”
- Iran “attempted to rebuild their nuclear programme.”
- Iran is developing long-range missiles that threaten the U.S. and others.”
- “We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground.”
- “We’re going to annihilate their navy.”
- “We will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.”
[1:44 PM] — Iranian missiles intercepted
The Israeli Defence Force reported that another volley of projectiles had been launched toward Israel, urging citizens to follow the directives of the Home Front Command strictly. The military instructed residents to remain in their protected spaces until an official announcement is made regarding their safety.
Additionally, an IDF spokesperson strongly warned the public against publishing or sharing the locations of vulnerabilities or any documentation of impacts. To reassure citizens, the military stated that its air defense systems are continuously detecting and intercepting incoming threats.
Iranian authorities have vowed to give a harsh response to Israel and the US bases in the Middle East.
[1:29 PM] — Explosions rock northern Israel
Explosions have been heard in northern Israel as the country attempts to intercept incoming missiles from Iran, following a nationwide attack in collaboration with the United States.
The blasts occurred shortly after the Israeli military announced its intention to deploy air defense systems to counter the Iranian fire. There are no immediate reports regarding damage or casualties from the ongoing conflict.
[1:22 PM] — Iran launches missiles towards Israel: Israeli army
The Israeli army has reported that missiles launched from Iran were detected heading toward Israel, triggering sirens in several areas of the country.
“The public is advised to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command,” they stated. “At this time, the Israeli Air Force is actively working to intercept and neutralize any threats as necessary.”
“While we strive for comprehensive defense, it is important for the public to remain vigilant and adhere to the guidelines issued by the Home Front Command. We request that everyone continue to follow these instructions.”
[1:00 PM] — Places where Israeli attacks targeted in Tehran?
So far, Israeli attacks on the Iranian capital have targeted:
- Ministry of Intelligence
- Ministry of Defence
- Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran
- Parchin military complex
[12:48 PM] — Iranian President is unharmed
The President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, was unharmed during the attacks by Israel and the U.S., according to the Iranian Mehr agency.
[12:39 PM] — US President Donald Trump
“We have started an extensive military operation in Iran; we will destroy the threat from the cruel Iranian regime,” – President Donald Trump.
“Our goal is to protect the American people by destroying the threats from the Iranian regime.” – President Donald Trump.
[12:34 PM] — Iran’s response will be crushing
Tehran is preparing for retaliation, and the response will be crushing, an Iranian official tells Reuters.
[12:25 PM] — Israel will carry out attacks for four days
The New York Times reported that the first phase of the assault on Tehran is set to last for four days.
[12:17 PM] — Multiple cities targeted
Tehran Times reported strikes in several cities, including Qom, Khoramabad, Esfahan, and Tehran.
[12:15 PM] — Civilians targeted in Tehran
Civilians hit by Israeli strike in Iran
[12:05 PM] — US-Israel joint attack on Iran
The U.S. participated in the attack and was also carrying out strikes. – WSJ citing U.S. official.
[12:00 PM] — Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was not in Tehran
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was not in Tehran during the attacks. – Reuters.