Strike Near Khamenei's Offices and Clashes at Tehran Complex Shake Capital
A daylight strike struck near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali khamenei on Saturday, as separate clashes between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Mojahedin-e-Khalq insurgents unfolded at the Motahari Complex in downtown Tehran.
Strike hit near Khamenei's offices in downtown Tehran
Smoke rose over central Tehran after an apparent daytime strike on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, with the first blast occurring close to the offices of the 86-year-old Supreme Leader,. Roads to Khamenei’s compound were closed as other explosions were reported across the city, and an official briefed on the operation said targets included Iran’s military, government symbols and intelligence sites.
The United States was participating in the strikes, a U. S. official and a person familiar with the operation said, though the full extent of American involvement was not immediately clear. It was not known whether khamenei had been in his offices at the time; he had not been seen publicly in days.
IRGC clashes with MEK at Motahari Complex near Khamenei's compound
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it killed or arrested at least 100 fighters from Mojahedin-e-Khalq after clashes on Monday as the MEK attempted operations near Khamenei's Tehran headquarters, the MEK confirmed. The Motahari Complex, which houses Khamenei's headquarters, Council, the Assembly of Experts and several top government offices, was the focal point of the fighting.
MEK said over 150 other insurgents "safely returned to their bases" by Monday night and that it planned to provide the names of the killed and injured to international human rights organizations. The group reported that 17 surveillance cameras at the complex had been operational, and that some were disabled at dawn on Monday; it also noted heavy ambulance traffic into the compound after the clashes.
Immediate consequences and next steps
The strikes and the Motahari Complex clashes left downtown Tehran under heightened restriction, with roads closed around Khamenei’s compound and emergency vehicles seen entering the area. Officials warned that the campaign targeted Iran’s military and intelligence infrastructure, while MEK characterized its operation as large and complex but said it was foiled in its early stages.
MEK said it will provide names of the killed and injured fighters to international human rights organizations, and it remained unclear whether Iran would launch immediate retaliation against military personnel or bases abroad.
The capital faces further security measures in the days ahead as authorities manage damage and casualty reports, and MEK follow-up with human rights organizations represents the next confirmed action the group has pledged.
