Iran’s Khamenei Goes Underground Amid US Airstrike Fears

The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly retreated to a fortified underground bunker in Tehran due to concerns over potential US airstrikes. This development follows announcements that the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is moving towards the Persian Gulf, escalating tensions between Iran and the United States.

According to Iran International and the Jerusalem Post, Khamenei, aged 86, has taken refuge in a network of underground tunnels. Senior military officials indicated that the probability of an attack has increased significantly, prompting the supreme leader to delegate day-to-day operations of the Islamic Republic to his youngest son, Masoud Khamenei, who is 53 years old. Masoud Khamenei’s responsibilities include maintaining communication with the regime’s executive branch.

On March 15, 2024, President Donald Trump announced the deployment of US warships to the Middle East as a warning to Iran. He characterized the naval movement as a substantial “armada,” further inflaming the existing war of words between the two nations. The USS Abraham Lincoln, accompanied by three destroyers, is currently en route from the Indian Ocean to the Persian Gulf, according to Stars and Stripes.

Despite the heightened tensions, Iranian officials have publicly adopted a defiant stance. President Masoud Pezeshkian threatened that any attack on Khamenei would be regarded as “an all-out war” against Iran. Additionally, Iran’s National Security Parliamentary Commission declared that any aggression towards Khamenei would lead to a declaration of jihad, as reported by the Iranian Students News Agency.

Khamenei, who often engages with the public through social media, has not posted on X since January 17, 2024. It remains unclear when he entered hiding. This is not the first time Khamenei has sought refuge underground; he similarly went silent after retreating to a bunker during the 12-Day War with Israel in June 2023. Reports from that time indicated he had even prepared a list of potential successors in case of his demise during the conflict.

The supreme leader’s last message on social media threatened to confront both domestic and international “criminals” he accused of inciting widespread protests that began on December 28, 2023. These protests, driven by dissatisfaction with a struggling economy exacerbated by severe drought, have led to violent crackdowns by regime forces, resulting in at least 3,000 civilian deaths. Some organizations claim that the actual death toll may be as high as 20,000.

As the situation evolves, the implications of Khamenei’s underground retreat and the military movements in the region continue to draw significant international attention. The potential for conflict remains a pressing concern in the context of US-Iran relations and regional stability.