There is a traitor in the Iranian leadership — Araqchi

There is a traitor among high-ranking Iranian leaders. This was stated by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, commenting on the murder of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war with Israel and the United States.

"The enemy knew about the holding of these meetings, and this indicates the presence of a leak of information — a leak that probably has not yet been completely eliminated and requires a solution. The security services are investigating the case. In my opinion, they knew very well that the Supreme Leader was in his office every morning, which made him an easily identifiable target. But they also realized that a meeting of military commanders was taking place in the next building — or perhaps in one or two buildings from there — and that was why they chose this particular time to attack," Araqchi said in an interview with Iranian journalist Javad Mugui.

Araqchi said that on the morning of February 28, the day of the attack, he was in the complex where Khamenei lived. Around 09.00, he met with the head of the Supreme Leader's administration, through whom secret reports were usually transmitted to him. During the meeting, the Minister presented a report on the negotiations and again reported on the tense situation. It was at this moment that the complex was hit.

The foreign minister also said that he has not yet met with the new supreme leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, after his election. Access to the Supreme Leader remains extremely limited, and the circle of people who have the opportunity to meet with him in person is minimal.

Ali Khamenei died on February 28 as a result of US and Israeli strikes on Tehran. Khamenei was buried in his native Mashhad four months after his death.