Where Is Iran’s Leader Khamenei Hiding? Reports Emerge Amid Rising Tensions And US Military Threats

International

oi-Swastika Sruti

Amid
the
ongoing
unrest
in
Iran,
and
buzzing
fear
of
the
foreign
military
attack
several
reports
suggest
that
Supreme
Leader
Ayatollah
Ali
Khamenei
has
moved
to
a
secure
underground
bunker
in
Tehran.

The
development
comes
as
nationwide
protests
intensify
and
the
Islamic
regime
faces
mounting
pressure
both
at
home
and
abroad.

According
to
reports
circulating
in
international
media,
the
decision
was
taken
after
senior
Iranian
officials
assessed
an
increased
risk
of
a
potential
US
military
strike,
following
the
movement
of
American
naval
forces
closer
to
the
Middle
East.

Security
Measures
Tightened
at
the
Top

Sources
familiar
with
the
matter
claim
that
Khamenei
has
taken
shelter
in
a
fortified
bunker
equipped
with
a
network
of
interconnected
tunnels,
designed
to
ensure
his
safety
during
emergencies.
Such
facilities
are
believed
to
be
part
of
Iran’s
long-standing
contingency
plans
for
high-level
leadership
protection
during
times
of
conflict.

While
Khamenei
is
reportedly
staying
underground,
his
office
continues
to
function
through
close
aides.
Reports
say
that
his
third-born
son,
Masoud
Khamenei,
has
stepped
in
to
manage
day-to-day
operations.
He
is
said
to
be
acting
as
the
main
link
between
the
supreme
leader’s
office
and
other
senior
government
officials.

US
Military
Presence
Raises
Alarm

The
reports
come
at
a
time
when
a
US
Navy
carrier
strike
group
is
moving
toward
the
Middle
East.
This
includes
the
USS
Abraham
Lincoln
aircraft
carrier,
along
with
multiple
guided-missile
destroyers.

The
movement
has
drawn
attention
after
US
President
Donald
Trump
made
fresh
remarks
warning
Iran’s
leadership
over
its
handling
of
protests.

Speaking
to
reporters
after
returning
from
Davos,
Trump
said
the
United
States
was
closely
monitoring
the
situation.
He
added
that
while
he
hoped
for
de-escalation,
Washington
was
prepared
for
different
outcomes
if
tensions
continued
to
rise.

Protests
Spread
Across
Iran

Iran
is
currently
witnessing
one
of
the
most
serious
waves
of
protests
in
decades.
What
began
as
public
anger
over
economic
issues,
including
the
sharp
fall
of
the
national
currency,
has
turned
into
broader
demonstrations
questioning
the
authority
of
the
country’s
leadership.

Human
rights
groups
claim
that
dozens
of
protesters
have
been
killed
during
clashes
with
security
forces,
and
thousands
have
been
detained.
Despite
earlier
signals
suggesting
restraint,
activists
say
the
crackdown
has
intensified
in
recent
days.

Government
Issues
Warnings
to
Foreign
Powers

Iranian
authorities
have
warned
the
United
States
and
Israel
against
intervening
in
the
country’s
internal
affairs.
Tehran
has
accused
foreign
governments
of
encouraging
unrest
and
has
said
any
external
involvement
would
be
met
with
a
strong
response.

As
protests
continue
and
military
tensions
remain
high,
uncertainty
looms
over
Iran’s
immediate
future.
With
reports
of
the
supreme
leader
going
into
hiding
and
global
powers
watching
closely,
the
situation
remains
volatile
and
closely
monitored
by
the
international
community.