Amid Assassination Fears, Iran's Supreme Leader Prepares for the Worst
With
tensions between Iran and Israel reaching dangerous new levels, Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei is quietly preparing for the possibility of his own assassination. At
86, Iran’s Supreme Leader understands he may be a direct target, whether by
Israel or the United States. But rather than panic, he's taken steps he
believes will ensure stability after him—and he reportedly sees dying at the
hands of his enemies as a form of martyrdom.
According
to a detailed report by The New York Times, Khamenei has drastically
limited his use of electronic communications to avoid being tracked. Instead,
he now relies on a trusted aide to deliver sensitive messages to his
commanders. Three Iranian officials familiar with these emergency protocols say
he is currently operating from a bunker and has already selected replacements
for key military and political roles should senior leaders be killed.
Most
notably, Khamenei has named three senior clerics he believes are qualified to
take over as Supreme Leader if he is assassinated. He’s asked the Assembly of
Experts—the body responsible for choosing Iran’s next top leader—to act swiftly
and pick one of the three, rather than going through a drawn-out selection
process that could leave the country vulnerable.
These
moves underscore just how serious the current situation is for Khamenei and his
regime, which has held power for more than three decades. The recent Israeli
airstrikes on Iran have been the most intense attacks the country has faced
since the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s. Iranian officials say the damage done in
just a few days has been greater than what Iran suffered over eight years of
war with Iraq.
In
response, Iran has launched daily retaliatory attacks, striking Israeli cities
like Haifa—including a hospital and oil refinery—as well as religious sites and
homes.
Iranian
officials say Khamenei’s team is preparing for every possible scenario,
including whether former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is campaigning to
return to office, might decide to get involved in the conflict.
The
officials who shared this information spoke anonymously, as they were not
authorized to speak publicly. But the message is clear: Khamenei is planning
for war, for succession, and possibly for his own death.
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