Sheltering in a bunker, Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei names potential successors
[Editor's Note: Follow our live blog for real-time updates on the latest developments in the Israel-Iran conflict.]
Wary of assassination, Iran's supreme leader mostly speaks with his commanders through a trusted aide now, suspending electronic communications to make it harder to find him, three Iranian officials familiar with his emergency war plans say.
Ensconced in a bunker, the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has picked an array of replacements down his chain of military command in case more of his valued lieutenants are killed in strikes by Israel or the United States, which dropped bombs on three nuclear sites in Iran on Saturday.
The attack, which President Donald Trump announced Saturday night, brings the US military directly into Israel's war with Iran after days of uncertainty about whether he would intervene in the conflict, and marks the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that the United States has sent its Air Force to strike major facilities inside the country, an act of war.
And in a remarkable move, the Iranian officials add, Khamenei has even named three senior clerics as candidates to succeed him should he be killed as well — perhaps the most telling illustration of the precarious moment he and his three-decade rule are facing.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Khamenei has taken an extraordinary series of steps to preserve the Islamic Republic ever since Israel launched a series of surprise attacks June 13. In only a few days, the Israeli attacks have been more intense and have caused more damage in Tehran than Saddam Hussein did in his entire eight-year war against Iran.
Iran appears to have overcome its initial shock, reorganising enough to launch daily counterstrikes of its own on Israel.
Iran's top officials are also quietly making preparations for a wide range of outcomes as the war intensifies, according to the Iranian officials, who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly about the ayatollah's plans.
Peering inside Iran's closely guarded leadership can be difficult, but its chain of command still seems to be functioning, despite being hit hard, and there are no obvious signs of dissent in the political ranks, according to the officials and to diplomats in Iran.
Khamenei, 86, is aware that either Israel or the United States could try to assassinate him, an end he would view as martyrdom, the officials said. Given the possibility, the ayatollah has made the unusual decision to instruct his nation's Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible for appointing the supreme leader, to choose his successor swiftly from the three names he has provided.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
36 minutes ago
- The National
Polling on Iran attack shows Donald Trump faces uphill battle to win public support
Polling conducted before the US attack on Iranian nuclear sites suggests US President Donald Trump could face an uphill battle to convince a majority of Americans to support the military strikes. A survey from The Washington Post before Saturday's attack found 45 per cent of respondents opposed the idea of US air strikes against Iran, 25 per cent supported strikes, while 30 per cent were unsure. 'We are deeply distracted by our own issues here at home,' said Brian Katulis, a senior fellow of the Washington-based Middle East Institute, pointing to economic and cultural issues preoccupying many Americans. Recent ' No Kings ' protests against Mr Trump's sweeping use of his executive authorities has also helped consolidate opposition to his Iran plans. 'These were protests that had deep concerns about President Trump overreaching on executive authority, and this action last night will continue those debates on that,' Mr Katulis said. He added that the crucial thing for Mr Trump, based on the Post 's polling, would be to convince the 30 per cent who were unsure about the idea of US strikes on Iran. Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has described Mr Trump's military action on Iran as 'not constitutional'. But Republicans sharing that view were almost non-existent on Sunday, with most supporting Mr Trump's actions. The White House said the strikes did not attack Iranian troops or civilians. During an appearance on NBC on Sunday, Vice President JD Vance echoed that message. 'We're not at war with Iran, we're at war with Iran's nuclear programme,' he said. 'We actually want peace, but we want peace in the context of them not having a nuclear weapons programme.' Despite Mr Trump initially claiming 'spectacular' success, Pentagon officials cautioned that an in-depth assessment of Saturday's strikes on Iran would take some time. If it becomes apparent that the strikes were not as effective as initially advertised, support for Mr Trump's decision to attack Iran could falter, Mr Katulis said. 'At the [Pentagon] news conference, they hedged a bit more,' Mr Katulis said, referring to Gen Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who urged patience while the US studies long-term battle damage assessments of the attacks.
Khaleej Times
40 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE strongly condemns terrorist bombing of church in Damascus
The UAE has strongly condemned the terrorist bombing at Mar Elias Church near Damascus, which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries to innocent people. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) stressed that the UAE expresses its strong condemnation of these criminal acts and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability. The Ministry expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy with the families of the victims, and with the government and people of Syria over this terrorist crime, as well as its wishes for a speedy recovery for all the injured.
Al Etihad
an hour ago
- Al Etihad
Arab leaders warn of 'catastrophic consequences' following US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities
22 June 2025 22:24 ISIDORA CIRIC (ABU DHABI)The Arab world voiced concern on Sunday following a series of US airstrikes that targeted key nuclear facilities in Iran. The rare direct attack by Washington prompted region-wide condemnation, with Gulf and Arab capitals warning that the escalation risks plunging the region into deeper instability and calling for a return to Arabia described the targeting of nuclear sites as a grave provocation. In a post on X, the Saudi Foreign Ministry reiterated its condemnation of "the violation of the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran" and called on the international community to intensify efforts towards finding a political solution to the said it "regrets the deterioration of the situation" and reaffirmed its support for peaceful solutions through regional and international cooperation. The Qatari Foreign Ministry cautioned that the escalation could lead to catastrophic consequences, stressing that the people of the region "cannot endure" the humanitarian cost of more called for a swift resumption of US-Iran negotiations, stressing that diplomacy must prevail to "spare [the region's] people the horrors and dangers of war". The Interior Ministry instructed 70% of government workers to work from home and urged citizens to avoid unnecessary use of roads to keep them clear for emergency also condemned the strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure, warning that the move threatens global security. Its Foreign Ministry denounced the violation of Iran's sovereignty, urged an immediate and complete end to military operations and called on the UN Security Council to take responsibility in de-escalating the described the US strikes as an "unlawful act of aggression" and a breach of international law. A spokesperson for Oman's Foreign Ministry warned the strike risks "widening the conflict" and denounced the targeting of nuclear facilities, which it said are protected under the Geneva Conventions due to the risks of radioactive warned of the "disastrous repercussions" of continued escalation, calling for urgent efforts to protect regional and global peace. The Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks and called for a political solution to the standoff over Iran's nuclear said the crisis was reaching a dangerous tipping point and could jeopardise the entire region's security. Cairo reaffirmed its position on respecting state sovereignty and urged all parties to avoid military confrontation. It also stressed that peaceful dialogue remained the only viable path Arab Parliament also condemned the strikes, saying they threaten to inflame conflicts across the Middle East. In a statement, it said the region was already suffering from rising tensions and could not bear further escalation. The body rejected the use of military force and urged powerful nations to lead efforts that advocate for diplomatic solutions to existing reactions came hours after US President Donald Trump announced that American forces had carried out strikes on Iran's nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Speaking on Fox News, Trump said six bunker-buster bombs were dropped on Fordow, and 30 Tomahawk missiles were used to strike other sites. He said Iran must now choose "peace or tragedy".US military officials said on Sunday that the operation, named 'Midnight Hammer', involved 125 aircraft and used 75 precision-guided weapons. B-2 bombers flew 18 hours from the United States and conducted the largest such operation in their history. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of violating the UN Charter and international law and said Tehran "reserves all options" in response. The Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation said the strikes caused extensive damage but vowed the move "will not allow the path of development of this national industry to be stopped". Israel-Iran Conflict Continue full coverage
