Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, has reportedly taken refuge in a fortified bunker in Tehran amid concerns over potential US airstrikes. His retreat follows warnings from senior military officials regarding an increased likelihood of a military attack by the United States, as the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group approaches the Persian Gulf. This development highlights escalating tensions between Iran and the US, particularly in the wake of recent threats exchanged between leaders.
Khamenei, aged 86, has designated his youngest son, Masoud Khamenei, 53, to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Islamic Republic during this precarious time. According to the *Jerusalem Post*, Masoud Khamenei’s responsibilities include serving as the primary communication link with the regime’s executive branch. The supreme leader’s actions underscore the gravity of the situation, with heightened military readiness on both sides.
The backdrop to Khamenei’s retreat is a series of escalating verbal confrontations with US President Donald Trump. On March 15, 2024, Trump announced that a substantial naval presence was being deployed to the Middle East as a warning to Iran, boasting that a significant “armada” was en route. The USS Abraham Lincoln, accompanied by three destroyers, is currently navigating from the Indian Ocean to the Persian Gulf region, indicating a strategic show of force.
Despite the mounting pressure, Iranian officials have publicly maintained a defiant stance. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian articulated that any attack against Khamenei by the US or Israel would be perceived as “an all-out war against us.” Additionally, Iran’s national security parliamentary commission asserted that an assault on Khamenei would prompt a declaration of jihad, as reported by the Iranian Students News Agency.
Khamenei, known for his active presence on social media, has not posted on X since January 17, 2023. It remains unclear when he entered into hiding, but this is not the first instance of such precautions. Last June, during the 12-Day War with Israel, Khamenei also retreated to a bunker, reportedly preparing a list of potential successors in case of his death during that conflict.
His previous social media communications have included threats to pursue both domestic and international “criminals” he accuses of inciting widespread protests that have erupted since December 28, 2023. These protests, which have arisen amid a deepening economic crisis exacerbated by severe drought conditions, have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 3,000 civilians, with some estimates indicating the toll could be as high as 20,000.
As the situation develops, the international community watches closely, aware that the actions taken by both Iran and the US in the coming days could have significant implications for regional stability.
