Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was reportedly injured during Israeli airstrikes targeting a secret underground facility in Tehran last month, according to a report by Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency. The strikes, part of a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, occurred on June 16 and targeted six access points to a hidden military complex where Pezeshkian was attending an emergency Supreme National Security Council meeting.
The report claims that Israeli bombs not only struck the entry and exit points of the facility but also disabled its ventilation and power systems, trapping those inside. Pezeshkian is said to have sustained minor leg injuries while escaping through an emergency shaft alongside other officials. Though not independently verified, the Fars account suggests Iran believes Israeli agents may have infiltrated key security structures to obtain intelligence on top leaders’ movements.
This incident marks a significant moment in the escalating conflict between the two arch-rivals. Social media videos from the time showed intense bombardments of mountainous areas northwest of Tehran now believed to have concealed the targeted facility. Iranian leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was reportedly in hiding during the attacks. Israeli officials later acknowledged Khamenei had also been a target but evaded detection after being moved to a secure location.
President Pezeshkian publicly accused Israel of attempting to assassinate him a claim Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz denied, asserting that regime change was never an objective. However, Israel’s initial assault reportedly eliminated several high-ranking commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the army, dealing a heavy blow to Iran’s military leadership.
On June 13, Israel launched surprise attacks on Iranian nuclear and military installations, claiming the move was to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran has denied such intentions, stating its uranium enrichment activities are for peaceful purposes. In response, the United States joined the fray on June 22, striking three Iranian nuclear facilities. President Donald Trump later claimed the U.S. attacks “obliterated” the sites, though some American intelligence assessments remain more conservative.
The recent revelations have intensified concerns about regional stability and raised questions over the depth of Israeli intelligence penetration into Iran’s most secure defense systems.
