Tehran: Amid rising military conflict with Israel and renewed warnings from the United States, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly handed over major powers to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s elite military council. The move signals a major shift in Iran’s power structure and wartime leadership.
According to a report by Iran Insight, Khamenei has been relocated to a secure underground bunker in northeast Tehran. Sources indicate he is accompanied by close family members, including his son Mojtaba Khamenei, amid growing concerns for his safety following intensified Israeli airstrikes.
The military conflict between Iran and Israel reached its sixth day on Wednesday, with both nations launching missile strikes at each other. Despite international calls for de-escalation, neither side appears ready to back down.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump stirred global attention with explosive remarks on his social media platform Truth Social. He declared: “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now… Our patience is wearing thin.” Trump also demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender” in light of its recent aggression.
Khamenei, who came to power in 1989, has long maintained centralized control over Iran’s military and political structures. However, sources familiar with the Supreme Leader’s circle told Reuters that he is now increasingly isolated following the deaths of several key military commanders in recent Israeli airstrikes, including top IRGC strategist Ali Shadmani. This has reportedly created a “strategic vacuum” within Iran’s military leadership.
Adding further fuel to the fire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that eliminating Khamenei would not provoke escalation but instead bring the war to an end. In an interview with ABC News, Netanyahu stated, “It’s not going to escalate the conflict, it’s going to end the conflict.”
