Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly moved into a heavily fortified underground bunker beneath Tehran as American military forces approach the Persian Gulf, according to Iran International. The 86-year-old leader’s relocation follows warnings from senior military officials about a possible imminent US strike. President Donald Trump announced Friday that the US Navy was deploying a massive armada to the Middle East, including the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group with five fighter jet squadrons and at least three missile destroyers. Khamenei has transferred day-to-day control of the Islamic Republic to his youngest son, Masoud Khamenei, 53, who now serves as the regime’s primary liaison to the executive branch.
The supreme leader’s retreat into hiding represents a stark contrast to Tehran’s public posturing. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that any US or Israeli strike on Khamenei would be treated as “an all-out war against us,” while Iran’s national security parliamentary commission threatened to declare jihad in response to any attack. Revolutionary Guard commanders have stated they have their “finger on the trigger” and are prepared to unleash chaos if the US intervenes. However, Khamenei’s online silence since January 17—unusual for a leader who regularly posts on social media—suggests concern within the regime about potential American military action.
The military tensions coincide with unprecedented domestic unrest in Iran. New figures indicate approximately 33,100 protesters have been killed since demonstrations began on December 28, sparked by economic collapse and severe drought conditions. Nearly 98,000 more have been wounded, with research showing 30 percent suffering eye injuries. Hospital data reveals at least 468 people were executed in Tehran alone, with doctors describing scenes resembling a war zone rather than standard medical care. One surgeon reported that injuries from pellets quickly escalated to wounds from “war bullets” fired at close range.
Exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi has accused the regime of “waging war on its own people,” comparing the death toll to American casualties during the Vietnam War. “We are at a point of no return and that’s why it’s so critical the world has to help or there will be even more of the same,” Pahlavi stated, calling for urgent Western intervention. He added: “It’s a moral obligation. There cannot just be condemnation then back to business as usual. The West cannot throw protesters under a bus.” This marks the second time Khamenei has sought bunker shelter, having also gone underground during last year’s 12-day conflict with Israel.