According to a report by Anadolu Agency on Tuesday July 21, 2026, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has described how he survived a U.S.-Israeli strike that killed former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, revealing that the attack caused major destruction and left senior officials struggling to escape the damaged site.
Araghchi said the building was struck by three powerful explosions in quick succession, causing sections of the structure to collapse.
He said he managed to escape through the debris alongside senior adviser Ali Asghar Hejazi as they searched for a way out of the damaged facility.
The foreign minister said he and other officials were left without communication for three days following the attack, during which they attempted to establish who had survived and assess the extent of the damage.