Concerns over potential military action from the United States have led Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to reportedly retreat to a fortified bunker in Tehran. The move comes as the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier strike group, heads towards the Persian Gulf, raising fears of an imminent attack. This situation escalates following heightened tensions and public threats between Khamenei and President Donald Trump.
According to reports from Iran International, Khamenei, aged 86, has taken shelter in an elaborate underground facility connected to a network of tunnels. His youngest son, Masoud Khamenei, has been appointed to manage the daily operations of the Islamic Republic during this crisis. His responsibilities include serving as the primary communication channel with the regime’s executive branch.
The Iranian government has assessed the risk of US airstrikes as significantly high after Trump announced the deployment of naval forces to the region. On March 15, 2024, Trump referred to the US Navy’s maneuvers as a show of strength, describing the fleet as a “massive armada.” Currently, the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, which includes three destroyers, is en route from the Indian Ocean to the Persian Gulf, according to Stars and Stripes.
Despite the escalating situation, Iranian officials have maintained a defiant public stance. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that any attack against Khamenei would be regarded as “an all-out war against us.” Additionally, the national security parliamentary commission has declared that any aggression towards Khamenei would result in 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, 2024. The precise date of his retreat into hiding remains unclear. This is not the first instance of Khamenei retreating to a secure location; he similarly went underground during the 12-Day War with Israel in June 2023. Reports indicated that he had prepared a list of potential successors during that time, reflecting the gravity of the situation.
In his last public statement, Khamenei threatened to target both domestic and international “criminals” responsible for the widespread protests that have emerged in Iran since December 28, 2023. These protests, fueled by discontent over the country’s struggling economy and the worst drought in decades, have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 3,000 civilians, with some estimates suggesting the toll could be as high as 20,000.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how both Iranian authorities and the US government will navigate this complex and dangerous landscape. The international community continues to watch closely as tensions rise and the implications of these developments become clearer.