Khamenei hiding in bunker, names potential successors
Aruna Shantha
21-Jun-2025 21:41:38
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been sheltering in a bunker since the onset of Israeli strikes and has secretly designated three possible successors in the event he is killed, the New York Times reported on Saturday, citing Iranian officials.
According to the report, Khamenei, 86, has also appointed replacements for the top military chain of command, fearing that more senior leaders could be targeted by Israel following the deaths of several high-ranking officials earlier in the opening blows of the campaign.
The three Iranian sources, who requested anonymity, said Khamenei now communicates with commanders exclusively through an aide and has ceased using all digital communication to avoid detection.
The decision to identify three clerical successors underscores the heightened threat to Khamenei’s leadership amid the ongoing war. Iranian officials say the supreme leader has taken extraordinary measures to preserve the stability of the Islamic Republic since the conflict began. While the military’s command structure remains functional, officials admit it has been significantly damaged.
For now, they say, there is no sign of internal revolt within the regime.
Khamenei reportedly accepts the possibility of assassination by Israel or the United States and believes that if killed, he would die a martyr. In a rare move, he has instructed the Assembly of Experts—the body tasked with selecting the next supreme leader—to swiftly choose his successor from the three names he has provided, aiming to ensure a smooth and rapid transition of power.
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