Iran’s intelligence ministry has issued a rare warning about attempts by foreign adversaries, including the United States and Israel, to target Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and destabilise the Islamic Republic.
Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib told the state news agency ISNA that “the enemy seeks to target the supreme leader, sometimes with assassination attempts, sometimes with hostile attacks,” though he did not specify a particular incident. He added that anyone acting in such directions, knowingly or unknowingly, is considered an “infiltrating agent of the enemy.”
Threats against Khamenei’s life have been rare prior to June’s 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, during which Israel targeted senior Iranian military officials, nuclear scientists, and strategic sites. The United States later conducted strikes on key nuclear facilities.
Reports during the conflict suggested that former US President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei to avoid escalating the showdown. Trump later stated on social media that he had prevented the leader from “a very ugly and ignominious death,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the action as a potential means to “end the conflict.”
Khamenei, 86, has been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, with final authority over all state affairs. Earlier this month, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed concern that threats to Khamenei could destabilise domestic institutions. In July, Khamenei said Israel’s attacks aimed to weaken the Islamic Republic, provoke unrest, and spur public protests against the government.
Although a ceasefire has been in place since June 24, both Israel and the United States have warned of renewed strikes if Iran resumes its nuclear programme.
