Ali Shamkhani, a senior Iranian military and political figure who was declared dead by Israel last week, has announced via text message that he is alive.
"I am alive and ready to sacrifice myself," Shamkhani wrote in a message to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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Shamkhani, a close advisor to Khamenei, was reported dead by Israel and Iranian media following the June 13 attacks.
Meanwhile, on Friday, media reported that Shamkhani was seriously injured and in the hospital, but is now in stable condition.
Shamkhani has served as Iran's top national security official and held senior positions in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as well as the Ministry of Defense.
Well-known in foreign policy circles in Washington and Europe, he has recently served as a key advisor on the current nuclear program talks with the US.