WASHINGTON, United States, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's foreign minister said the country's supreme leader was alive, along with all high-ranking officials, after Israel and the United States launched strikes across the country on Saturday. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was alive "as far as I know", in an interview from Tehran with the US outlet, adding that "all high ranking officials are alive". He added that while there was no communication with Washington now, "if Americans wants to talk to us. They know how they can contact me. We are certainly interested for de-escalation".

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha February 28, 2026 15:38 UTC