FLASH
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Iranian officials told Reuters that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was “in a safe location” and not in Tehran, amid reports that he had been moved to an underground bunker, possibly in the Levizani area northeast of the capital. However, as the hours passed, rumors grew that he may have been injured or killed in the joint Israeli-US strikes.
In a video message in the evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “many signals” that Khamenei was dead. Several international media outlets, particularly Israeli ones, reported that he had been killed and that his body had been found. There has been no official confirmation from the Iranian side so far. The fate of his second son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has been mentioned as a possible successor for years, also remains unclear.
According to reports, cheers were heard in several neighborhoods of Tehran after news of the possible death of the supreme leader spread. Residents came out of their windows and applauded, while authorities did not react publicly to these developments.
After the latest strike, which followed a previous clash several months ago, the US administration clarified the objectives of the operation. President Donald Trump declared in a video on the Truth Network that “the regime will never have nuclear weapons” and that the operation aims to protect the American people from threats from Tehran by striking military targets and weapons production facilities. He did not directly mention eliminating the supreme leader, but the statements left open the possibility that the Iranian leadership was among the strategic targets.
Khamenei's security is managed by a special unit of the Revolutionary Guards, known as the "Vali Amr Protection Corps." After the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, security measures around him were significantly tightened.
Ali Khamenei has ruled Iran since 1989. He became Supreme Leader after the death of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ruhollah Khomeini, and had previously served two terms as president. During his decades in power, he has consolidated control through an alliance with the conservative wing and the Revolutionary Guard.
Analysts say that if his death is confirmed, Iran could face a period of deep uncertainty. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been mentioned as a possible successor, but such a transition could spark internal conflicts, with consequences for regional stability, including in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.
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