As tensions rise following direct US and Israeli strikes, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is reportedly living in a fortified underground bunker and has named three potential successors in case he is assassinated, according to a report by The New York Times.
Khamenei Cuts Off Electronic Communications for Security
Citing three Iranian officials familiar with Iran’s emergency war protocols, the report reveals that Khamenei has ordered the shutdown of all electronic communications around him to make his location harder to trace. This move comes amid growing fears of assassination attempts and intensified Israeli airstrikes.
Mojtaba Khamenei and Raisi Not on Successor List
Interestingly, Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader’s own son and a cleric closely allied with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), is not among the shortlisted successors, officials confirmed.
Another previously considered candidate, former President Ebrahim Raisi, died in a 2024 helicopter crash, further complicating the future leadership picture.
The names of the three clerics under consideration have not been made public, but the selection signals preparation for a possible regime shift amid the ongoing military escalation.
5 Possible Scenarios as US Joins Iran-Israel War
Israel Vows to Hold Khamenei Accountable for War Crimes
Israel has directly blamed Iran for a missile strike that hit a hospital near Tel Aviv, escalating the war rhetoric.
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement:
“The cowardly Iranian dictator sits in a fortified bunker and fires missiles at hospitals and residential buildings. These are war crimes of the most serious kind.”
Katz emphasized that Khamenei would be held accountable, and added that both he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have instructed the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to intensify attacks on strategic targets in Iran and Tehran.
US B-2 Bombers in Motion Amid Rising Tensions
As global attention turns to the escalating conflict, US stealth B-2 bombers were spotted flying over the Pacific Ocean, according to tracking data and media reports. The bombers, capable of carrying 30,000-pound bunker-busting GBU-57 bombs, were accompanied by refueling jets, raising speculation that they may soon be deployed in strikes on Iranian nuclear or military sites.
Conclusion: Uncertain Future for Iran’s Leadership and the Region
With Supreme Leader Khamenei now in hiding and succession plans underway, Iran’s political future is as uncertain as its military one. The next few days could prove decisive, not just for Iran, but for the entire Middle East.