Tehran – Iran’s Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib has issued a warning regarding alleged US and Israeli efforts to target Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and incite internal unrest. The statement, reported by local media, highlights heightened concerns over the leader’s safety and the stability of the Islamic Republic.
According to the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), Khatib stated on Saturday that the Supreme Leader is the “pillar” of the nation, making him a prime target for enemies seeking to undermine Iranian unity. While the minister did not specify any particular incident or plot, Iranian officials frequently accuse the United States and Israel of orchestrating conspiracies against the country.
The reference to the Supreme Leader’s security is particularly noteworthy. Prior to the recent Iranian-Israeli conflict, such direct concerns were rarely voiced. The conflict, which erupted following an unprecedented Israeli attack on Iran on June 13th, lasted for 12 days and saw the brief involvement of the United States, which conducted strikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities.
Adding to these concerns, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on November 11th that he feared Khamenei’s assassination during the June conflict, suggesting that such an event could trigger internal divisions. “I was not afraid for myself; I was afraid that something would happen to the Supreme Leader, and that we would fight among ourselves,” Pezeshkian said in a video broadcast by state media.
Ali Khamenei, 86, has held the position of Supreme Leader since 1989, succeeding Ayatollah Khomeini. He holds ultimate authority on all strategic matters within the Islamic Republic. During the summer conflict, American and Israeli officials made statements that threatened his life. Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that killing the Supreme Leader would “end the conflict, not fuel it”. Former US President Donald Trump stated that taking out Khamenei would be an “easy target” but that Washington was “not doing it, at least not yet”.
Khamenei made no public appearances during the war, addressing the Iranian people only in recorded speeches.
