Facing heightened Israeli retaliation, Ayatollah Khamenei retreats to a bunker as Iran braces for leadership transition; NYT reveals three potential successors amid looming crisis
Tehran: As tensions between Iran and Israel escalate to unprecedented levels, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, has reportedly gone underground, fearing an imminent assassination attempt by Israeli forces. According to a report published by the New York Times, Khamenei has already vacated his residence and is now sheltering in a high-security bunker.
In a striking revelation, the report claims that Khamenei is treating the possibility of his assassination as martyrdom — a term that carries immense religious and political weight in Iran's Shiite theocracy.
“Khamenei has identified three potential successors,” NYT cited officials as saying, though their identities remain undisclosed.
The urgency of this move suggests Iran’s leadership is preparing for a sudden transition, should Israel succeed in its targeting efforts.
Backdrop: Israel-Iran War and Escalating Tensions
This dramatic shift in Iran’s leadership posture comes in the wake of Israel’s high-profile assassinations, including that of IRGC Air Force Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh and multiple top Iranian military officials, killed during a strategic meeting at an Iranian air command center on Day One of the ongoing war.
In response to Iranian missile strikes that hit an Israeli hospital and residential buildings earlier this week, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a chilling warning:
“Khamenei will not go unpunished.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu further inflamed the situation, stating that “all options are on the table.”
Succession Race Begins – But Without Mujtaba?
While no official names have been confirmed for succession, sources suggest that Khamenei's son, Mujtaba Khamenei, long considered a leading contender, is not currently with the Supreme Leader. This revelation raises eyebrows in Iran’s tightly controlled clerical-political landscape.
Analysts believe Mujtaba's absence could signal internal disagreements or an intentional distancing to prevent dynastic accusations, especially as Iran aims to maintain legitimacy in times of crisis.
Under normal conditions, the Assembly of Experts, Iran's clerical body, would take months to elect a new Supreme Leader. But as the threat of external attack looms, sources say a successor could be fast-tracked to avert a national leadership vacuum.
Israel’s Strategy: Decapitation or Deterrence?
The ongoing conflict, which began as a retaliatory escalation, now appears to be shifting into targeted leadership warfare, with Israel reportedly considering decapitation strikes aimed at undermining Iran’s highest authority.
Khamenei, who has ruled Iran since 1989, is the ultimate decision-maker in Iran’s military, foreign, and nuclear policies, making him a symbolic and strategic target.
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