Khamenei cuts electronic communication, relying on trusted aide to relay messages to commanders, says NYT
- Iran bans cell phones for top officials to prevent surveillance.
- Formal succession plan drawn, naming 3 possible replacements.
- His son Mojtaba was notably excluded from the list of successors.
As Iran’s standoff with Israel escalates to dangerous levels, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly taken extreme security precautions — including relocating to a fortified bunker and initiating a formal succession plan — according to a report by The New York Times published Saturday.
Citing three Iranian officials familiar with internal emergency planning, the report reveals that Khamenei has ceased using all electronic devices and now communicates exclusively with military commanders through a single, trusted aide to avoid detection or surveillance.
The supreme leader is now believed to be sheltering in a heavily fortified underground facility as part of heightened national security measures. In a further sign of the gravity of the situation, Khamenei has reportedly identified replacements for key military roles and named three senior clerics who could potentially succeed him in the event of his assassination.
Officials quoted in the report said Khamenei suspects that either Israel or the United States could be plotting to target him directly. As a result, Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence has tightened security protocols, banning electronic devices among top leadership, including military officials, to prevent tracking or espionage.
One notable exclusion from the list of potential successors is Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who for years had been speculated as a possible heir to the supreme leadership.
Iranian authorities have not issued a public response to the report. However, the revelations underscore the growing alarm within Tehran’s top echelons as the regional crisis continues to deepen.
