Context:

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was slightly injured during Israeli attacks on a secret underground facility in Tehran, where he was attending an emergency meeting of the Supreme National Security Council. The strikes, which took place last month, targeted key access points and blocked the facility's ventilation system, leading to a dangerous escape through an emergency shaft. Despite Iran's claims that Israel attempted to assassinate Pezeshkian, Israeli officials have denied such intentions, stating the war's aim was not regime change but preventing nuclear weapon development. The strikes took Iranian leaders by surprise, leading to temporary decision-making paralysis and resulting in significant casualties among top Iranian commanders. The conflict has raised questions about Israel's intelligence capabilities, particularly regarding their knowledge of the locations of Iran's top officials and sensitive facilities.

Dive Deeper:

• Iran's state Fars news agency reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian was injured during Israeli airstrikes on a secret underground facility in Tehran on June 16, where he was attending a critical meeting of the Supreme National Security Council.

• The Israeli attacks were part of a broader operation targeting nuclear and military sites in Iran, which Israel justified by citing the need to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, a claim Iran denies, asserting its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

• Videos shared on social media during the 12-day conflict showed repeated Israeli strikes against a mountainside in north-western Tehran, with reports later confirming that the facility housed Iran's top leaders at the time.

• The strikes blocked all six entry and exit points and cut off the facility's electricity, but Pezeshkian managed to escape, although he sustained leg injuries in the process.

• Despite accusations from Pezeshkian that Israel attempted to kill him, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz denied any assassination efforts, stating the war's objective was not regime change.

• Iranian leaders were caught off guard by the surprise attacks, leading to a temporary paralysis in decision-making and significant losses among top IRGC and army commanders.

• Questions remain about how Israel gathered critical intelligence regarding the whereabouts of Iran's top officials and the locations of sensitive secret facilities, highlighting the complexity and depth of Israel's intelligence operations.