Iran’s supreme leader says US base strike was a “slap to America’s face” in first remarks since Israel ceasefire.

TEHRAN, Feb 28: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with NBC News that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were alive, adding, “as far as I know.”

However, hours later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered a sharply different account in a nationally televised speech, saying, “There are growing signs that the tyrant is no longer alive.”

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, has led Iran since 1989. As Supreme Leader, he wields ultimate authority over the government, armed forces and judiciary of the Shi’ite Islamic Republic.

Over nearly four decades in power, Khamenei expanded Iran’s regional influence, positioning it as a counterweight to Sunni-led Gulf states while advancing a nuclear program that has long unsettled neighboring countries.

Tehran has maintained a staunchly adversarial stance toward the United States and Israel, while suppressing waves of domestic unrest.

The latest strikes on Iran come against the backdrop of mounting crises. In June 2025, Israeli and U.S. attacks targeted key nuclear and missile facilities, following earlier strikes that reportedly forced Khamenei into hiding and killed several of his close associates and senior Revolutionary Guard commanders.

In January, large-scale protests fueled by economic hardship and sanctions were forcefully dispersed, with thousands reported killed.

Since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by the Tehran-backed Hamas, Iran’s regional standing has faced increasing strain, further challenging Khamenei’s grip on influence.