🇮🇷 🇮🇷| The Head of Tehran Emergency Services, Mohammad Esmail Tavakoli, says the martyrdom of Imam Khamenei was confirmed around 8:00 PM:

In an interview with Javad Mogouei, Mohammad Esmail Tavakoli, Head of Tehran Emergency Services, recalled the events of the 9th of Esfand, the first day of the war, and described what happened following the initial explosions near the leadership compound.

Interviewer: On the 9th of Esfand, around 9:30 in the morning, where were you on the first day of the war? What time was it?

Mohammad Esmail Tavakoli: At that time, I was sitting by a window at the end of my room overlooking the government compound. A massive sound came, and the area shook. I saw some smoke rising and heard two explosions. Right at that moment, my phone rang. The Minister’s office called to ask about the Minister’s health, asking, “Is the Minister okay?” I said, “Sir, the Minister wasn’t there, but your health is fine.”

Interviewer: Where did the first phone call come from?

Tavakoli: Right at that moment, the Minister’s office called me. The Minister’s secretary asked, “Mr. Tavakoli, what happened?” I replied, “I think they hit Beit, the leadership compound.” I was calling you at the same time. The kids brought bags and equipment. Republic Street was packed, filled with a burning atmosphere, and very crowded. It was a terrible atmosphere. Dr. Kolivand arrived on a motorcycle, and we went inside. It took about four or five minutes in total. I went down to Palestine Street. The support staff said we had an injured person on the street who had been attending a Defense Council meeting on the eastern side of Palestine Street. Several cars were exploding. There were pieces of broken concrete rubble in the street. Mr. Majid’s hand was severed. Dr. Larijani arrived near the small Palestine Street door, got on a motorcycle, and entered the Beit compound.

Interviewer: Do you have an ambulance stationed permanently inside Beit?

Tavakoli: Yes, and we are present at all locations where there is a potential hazard. When our outpost was hit and our ambulance was damaged, our team quickly arrived with an ambulance bag. Mr. Majid saw me, grabbed me quickly by the arm, and started crying. I told him, “Majid, this is no time to cry. Let’s go inside.” Dr. Kolivand and I headed toward the office. It was destroyed, with several bodies lying around. The atmosphere was not one where you could sense the presence of the Supreme Leader. Ayatollah Khamenei, Mr. Hossein, and Mr. Seyyed Mohammadreza Aziz were very composed. I told them, “Sir, an incident has occurred,” and he said, “Pray, hopefully it’s for the best.” I told Mr. Farhani, “Esmail, an incident has happened, I think…”

Mr. Hossein is generally an eloquent, well-spoken, and charming person. That day, he was completely affected and shaken. I and others present in the compound stayed until dusk. We could not gather any information about the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei until the Minister called me twice, asking, “Mr. Tavakoli, are you sure the Supreme Leader is safe?” I replied, “Sir, we’ve been inside the compound until 2:00 PM, and there was no news of the Supreme Leader’s martyrdom.” The atmosphere was not one of despair, though friends might have been worried due to the security points, which was completely understandable. The country’s atmosphere needed to be managed. Finally, at 8:00 PM, through the personnel at the Ministry of Information, we were informed that he had reached the degree of martyrdom.

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