Shocking Revelation: Did Israel Plot a Nasrallah-Style Assassination of Iran’s President Pezeshkian?
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| Photo credit_Bao Cong ly |
In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through the Middle East and beyond, a report by Iran’s Fars News Agency, linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has alleged that Israel orchestrated a daring assassination attempt on Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the 12-day war between Tehran and Jerusalem in June 2025. The operation, reportedly modeled after Israel’s high-profile assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, targeted a high-level meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, raising questions about espionage, regional tensions, and the fragility of the recent ceasefire. Here’s an in-depth look at this explosive claim, the context of the conflict, and its potential implications for global geopolitics.
The Alleged Assassination Attempt
According to the Fars News Agency, on June 16, 2025, just four days into the intense 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, Israeli forces launched a precision missile strike on a building in western Tehran’s Shahrak-e Gharb area. The target was a critical meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Judiciary Chief Mohseni Ejei, and other senior Iranian officials. The report claims that Israel deployed six missiles, strategically aimed at the building’s entry and exit points to block escape routes and disrupt airflow, a tactic eerily reminiscent of the operation that killed Hezbollah’s Nasrallah in Lebanon the previous year.
The strike reportedly caused chaos, cutting power to the lower floors where the meeting was held. However, an emergency hatch, prepared in advance, allowed Pezeshkian and other officials to escape. The Iranian president sustained a minor leg injury during the evacuation, as did several other attendees. The precision of the attack has sparked suspicions of an internal leak, with Iranian authorities now investigating the possibility of an infiltrator providing Israel with critical intelligence. The Fars report suggests that the operation’s accuracy points to a significant breach in Iran’s security apparatus, a claim that could have far-reaching consequences for the regime’s internal stability.
Pezeshkian himself confirmed the assassination attempt in a recent interview with U.S. commentator Tucker Carlson, stating, “They did try, yes… They acted accordingly, but they failed.” He elaborated that Israel used intelligence from spies to target the meeting, underscoring the sophistication of the operation. “I was in a meeting… but thanks to the intelligence by the spies that they had, they tried to bombard the area in which we were holding that meeting,” Pezeshkian said, without specifying the exact date but aligning with the June 16 timeline reported by Fars.
Context of the Iran-Israel Conflict
The alleged assassination attempt occurred during a 12-day war that erupted on June 13, 2025, when Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran’s military and nuclear facilities. Codenamed “Operation Rising Lion,” the Israeli offensive targeted top IRGC commanders, nuclear scientists, and key infrastructure, including uranium enrichment sites at Natanz, Fordo, and Isfahan. The campaign resulted in the deaths of high-ranking Iranian officials, including IRGC Commander Hossein Salami, Armed Forces Chief Mohammad Bagheri, and IRGC Air Force Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Israel claimed the strikes were necessary to thwart Iran’s alleged plans to develop nuclear weapons and destroy the Jewish state, a justification echoed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Iran retaliated with waves of missile and drone attacks, launching over 550 ballistic missiles and 1,000 explosive drones targeting Israeli cities and military sites. The conflict saw significant casualties, with Iranian media reporting 78 deaths and over 320 injuries, mostly civilians, while Israel reported 86 injuries from missile strikes in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and other areas. The United States joined the fray on June 22, striking Iran’s nuclear facilities with bunker-busting bombs and Tomahawk missiles, escalating the conflict further. A fragile ceasefire, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, took hold on June 24, but tensions remain high, with both sides accusing each other of violations.
The assassination attempt on Pezeshkian, if confirmed, marks a significant escalation in Israel’s strategy. While Israel has a history of targeting Iran’s military and scientific elite, an attempt on the country’s political leadership—particularly a newly elected president—represents a bold and provocative move. Pezeshkian, a former heart surgeon elected in the summer of 2024, has positioned himself as a moderate, advocating for national unity and diplomacy with Iran’s neighbors. His survival could bolster his domestic standing but also intensify Iran’s resolve to retaliate.
Espionage and Regional Implications
The precision of the June 16 strike has raised alarming questions about Israel’s intelligence capabilities within Iran. Reports suggest that the operation was underpinned by years of covert efforts, including the infiltration of Iran with commandos, weapons, and advanced surveillance. The New York Times reported that Israel’s military intelligence and Mossad collaborated on the strikes, leveraging smuggled drones and real-time tracking of Iranian officials. The possibility of an internal mole has further unnerved Tehran, with authorities launching a probe to identify potential collaborators.
This incident echoes Israel’s assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, which involved similar tactics of precision targeting and intelligence gathering. The Nasrallah operation, executed in September 2024, crippled Hezbollah’s leadership and set a precedent for Israel’s aggressive approach to neutralizing perceived threats. By reportedly adopting the same playbook against Pezeshkian, Israel may be signaling its willingness to target even the highest echelons of Iran’s leadership, a move that could destabilize the region further.
The timing of the attack is also significant. It occurred just 61 days after Trump imposed a 60-day deadline for a nuclear agreement with Iran, a demand that Tehran rejected. Pezeshkian has expressed openness to resuming nuclear talks, stating in his interview with Carlson, “We see no problem in re-entering the negotiations,” but emphasized that trust with the U.S. remains a major hurdle. The assassination attempt, coupled with the destruction of Iran’s nuclear facilities, has likely deepened Tehran’s mistrust, complicating diplomatic efforts.
Global Reactions and Future Prospects
The international community is watching closely as this revelation threatens to unravel the fragile ceasefire. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned Israel’s actions as a “dangerous escalation,” while European foreign ministers urged Iran to return to diplomacy. Pakistan, a close ally of Iran, expressed concern over the targeting of IAEA-safeguarded nuclear facilities, highlighting the broader implications for global non-proliferation efforts.
On X, the news has sparked intense debate. Posts from users like @Narjes_Rahmati claim that a detained Mossad spy leaked details of the plot, while @MayadeenEnglish reported that Iran has ruled out talks on its missile or nuclear programs in response to the attack. These sentiments reflect growing distrust in diplomatic channels and a hardening of Iran’s stance.
For Israel, the operation underscores its determination to counter Iran’s regional influence and nuclear ambitions. However, targeting a sitting president risks galvanizing Iran’s hardliners and fueling calls for retaliation. Pezeshkian’s defiance, coupled with his insistence that Iran will “respond to every wound” with “faith, wisdom, and determination,” suggests that Tehran may pursue both military and diplomatic countermeasures.
Conclusion
The alleged Nasrallah-style assassination attempt on President Masoud Pezeshkian represents a dangerous new chapter in the Iran-Israel conflict. With Iran investigating potential internal leaks and Israel doubling down on its preemptive strategy, the region teeters on the edge of further escalation. As global powers scramble to salvage nuclear talks and stabilize the Middle East, the world awaits Iran’s next move. Will Pezeshkian’s survival embolden Iran’s resistance, or can diplomacy prevail? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: the shadow of this audacious plot will loom large over the region’s future.
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