&w=3840&q=100)
Israeli strike targeted high-level Iranian security meeting; Prez Pezeshkian escapes with injuries: Report
President Masoud Pezeshkian will defend Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati (not pictured), who will also speak in favour of his own record. AFP
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was reportedly the target of an Israeli assassination attempt during a strike on 15 June, amid the ongoing war between Iran and Israel, according to a report by Iran's IRGC-linked Fars News Agency.
The report claims that Israel targeted a high-level meeting of Iran's Supreme National Security Council in Tehran, aiming to kill Pezeshkian, along with the Speaker of Parliament and the head of the judiciary. The strike reportedly involved missiles or bombs used to block the exits of the building where the meeting was taking place.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Pezeshkian was said to have sustained a minor leg injury, and all three officials managed to escape through an emergency exit. The attack, which reportedly injured the officials as they fled from the lower levels of the building, is currently under investigation. Authorities suspect that a mole may have leaked information about the meeting to Israel.
The assassination attempt was allegedly modelled on Israel's operation that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut last year.
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. While he did not specify the date, he said the attack took place during a meeting and that Israel had used intelligence provided by spies to target the location.
The attempt was part of a broader Israeli offensive last month targeting Iran's military and nuclear infrastructure. That campaign led to the killing of senior Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists. Israel stated the strikes were necessary to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
The armed conflict between Iran and Israel began on 13 June 2025, when Israel launched surprise attacks on key Iranian military and nuclear sites, amid the ongoing Gaza war and broader regional tensions.
In the opening hours of the conflict, Israeli air and ground forces killed several high-ranking Iranian military leaders, nuclear scientists, and politicians, and damaged or destroyed significant parts of Iran's air defences and nuclear facilities.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Throughout the war, Israel conducted hundreds of airstrikes. In response, Iran launched waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli cities and military installations, firing over 550 ballistic missiles and more than 1,000 explosive drones.
On 22 June, the United States joined the offensive, striking key Iranian nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordo, and Isfahan using 'bunker-busting' bombs and Tomahawk missiles. There were reports that Israel planned to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but US President Donald Trump claimed credit for preventing American and Israeli forces from carrying out the plan.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Iranian president Pezeshkian injured during Israeli strike on bunker: Report
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was reportedly slightly injured during an Israeli airstrike in June, according to Iran's state-linked Fars news agency. The report says that on June 16, six bombs targeted a hidden underground facility in Tehran, where Pezeshkian was attending a high-level emergency meeting of Iran's Supreme National Security bombs struck the facility, the report says, the president and others escaped using an emergency tunnel. During the escape, Pezeshkian suffered minor leg injuries. Electricity and the ventilation system were reportedly cut off during the news agency is close to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), but its report has not been independently confirmed by other sources. Quoting an unnamed official, Al Jazeera also reported, "The assassination attempt targeted the heads of the three branches of government in an effort to overthrow it."SECRET BUNKER TARGETED IN AIRSTRIKE, SAY REPORTSThe hidden facility in Tehran is believed to be one of the most important locations for Iran's top leadership. It was reportedly hit during the fourth day of fighting between Israel and Iran in mid-June. Videos shared on social media at the time showed repeated strikes on a mountainside in northwestern to Fars, the Israeli airstrikes sealed all six access points to the underground facility, blocking escape and air circulation. The report also said power to the entire site was cut, making it harder for officials inside to communicate or evacuate. Despite the chaos, President Pezeshkian managed to get out safely, though slightly week, Pezeshkian publicly accused Israel of attempting to kill him. In response, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz denied the allegation, saying, "Regime change" in Iran was never a goal of the the start of the conflict, Israel had already struck several top military and IRGC commanders. Iranian officials have admitted that the first wave of Israeli attacks caught them completely off-guard, leading to confusion and delays in decision-making for at least 24 also suggest that Israel may have had detailed intelligence on the locations of Iran's leaders and secret facilities. While Israel hasn't confirmed these reports, the attack has raised questions about how Israeli forces were able to plan and strike so ESCALATES OVER NUCLEAR ENRICHMENTThe conflict began when Israel launched a surprise attack on June 13, targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites. Israel said the attack was necessary to stop Iran from developing nuclear strongly denied the accusation, stating that its nuclear program is for peaceful energy purposes. In retaliation, Iran launched drone and missile strikes on Israeli June 22, the United States also joined the fight, launching missile and air strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites. President Donald Trump said the US "obliterated" those facilities. After a 12-day conflict, Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran on June 23.- Ends
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Wait, You Speak English? 9 Surprising Countries Where English Is The Official Language
New Delhi: During a visit to the White House, Donald Trump leaned in, eyebrows raised. Liberia's President Joseph Boakai had just finished a polished statement in crisp and confident English. Trump looked surprised. 'Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?' he asked. Boakai did not miss a beat. 'English is our official language,' he said. That one exchange, brief and unplanned, lit up a corner of the world many forget exists – the former colonies, the cultural crossroads, the places far from the United Kingdom or the United States where English is not only spoken but written into constitutions and used in courts, classrooms and cabinets. Here's a look at nine countries across Africa, Asia and the Pacific where English is the language of power, policy and everyday life. Liberia: First Language – English A country built by freed African-American slaves, Liberia was modeled after the United States in everything from government structure to language. Today, English remains the primary language in education, politics and media, making the White House moment unsurprising for most Liberians, if not for Americans. Nigeria: First Language – English Home to over 500 native languages, Nigeria turned to English as the neutral glue. Left behind by the British, it quickly became the language of courts, universities and national politics. Nigerian English has its own flavour, often interwoven with Pidgin and local idioms. It is formal in the Senate and casual in Nollywood. Philippines: Languages – English and Filipino Once a Spanish colony and then an American one, the Philippines absorbed English so fully that you will hear it on TV, in schools and even love songs. The American influence never really left, except now it comes with a distinctly Filipino accent, often mixing with Tagalog in everyday conversation. Kenya: Languages – English and Swahili A British legacy that stuck. In Nairobi's high-rises and Mombasa's courthouses, English is the language of contracts, classrooms and CNN interviews. While Swahili holds the cultural heartbeat, English keeps the country plugged into global circuits. Singapore: Languages – English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil This city-state may be multi-lingual, but English is what holds its diversity together. It is the language of education, government and business. On the street, it morphs into Singlish – a blend of English with Chinese, Malay and Indian slang, full of rhythm, attitude and local wit. Rwanda: Languages – English, Kinyarwanda, French, Swahili Post-genocide, Rwanda shifted its gaze eastward, ditching French and embracing English in 2008. The switch signalled new alliances and opened doors to regional trade and diplomacy. Now, children in Kigali learn English in school and officials use it at the African Union. South Africa: Languages – 11 Official Languages, Including English English may share space with Zulu, Xhosa and Afrikaans, but it is the go-to for business, news and international diplomacy. Walk into a courtroom, tune into a live rugby match or watch a presidential address, chances are, English will be at the center. Uganda: Languages – English and Swahili A colonial holdover turned national standard. Uganda speaks English in its schools and parliaments, on its street signs and in its contracts. While tribal languages flourish in homes, English still carries the stamp of officialdom. Fiji: Languages – English, Fijian, Hindi Set in the South Pacific, Fiji does not often make the list of English-speaking nations. But it should. After British rule ended, English stayed behind in classrooms, courtrooms and tourist brochures. Today, it bridges communities across ethnic lines, from native Fijians to Indo-Fijians. These countries did not choose English randomly. Most inherited it from colonisers. Some adopted it out of necessity. Others reshaped it into something uniquely their own. Either way, the language lives on – on islands, in savannahs and across cities far from London or New York.
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Macron announces sharp rise in France's military spending amid US disengagement
French President Emmanuel Macron announced a plan to push forward France's military spending during his annual speech to the armed forces on Sunday, just before the country's Bastille Day holiday."Our freedom has never been so threatened," Macron said. "There are no more rules, it's the law of the strongest that wins." He added, "We Europeans must assure our security ourselves."advertisementMacron made it clear that old alliances, especially with the United States under President Trump, have weakened. He said the threat from Russia is very serious and that the world is now more willing to use force. "You have to be feared in this world," Macron said. "And to be feared you have to be strong." He also said that "American disengagement" means Europe must defend declared that by 2027, the year he leaves office, France's military budget will be increased to $74.8 billion. Compared to the $37.64 billion spent in 2017, the budget will rise by 6.5 billion euros, or $7.6 billion, over the next two the military budget will double in ten years, it still only makes up 2 percent of France's total economic output. NATO agreed that all 32 member countries should increase their spending to 5 percent of their economy by PUSH TOWARD MILITARY INDEPENDENCEMacron's decision to raise military spending comes at a time when France faces serious challenges. The top French general, Thierry Burkhard, recently said Russia is now France's "main adversary in Europe."France is the only nuclear power in the European Union and has the strongest military in the union. Only Britain in Western Europe matches France with nuclear weapons and a strong has been upset by President Trump's unpredictable foreign policy, personal insults, and threats to raise tariffs on European goods. This has made Macron more determined to lead France and Europe toward greater independence in security Saturday, Macron criticised Trump's threat to impose a 30 percent tariff on European Union goods if no trade deal is reached by August 1. French Defence Minister Sbastien Lecornu told a French newspaper that no one in France wants the country to depend on others for military strength. He said France must work harder not just in money, but also in thinking, values, and industry.- EndsWith inputs from Agencies Must Watch
