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From the New York Times: Wary of assassination, Iran’s supreme leader mostly speaks with his commanders through a trusted aide now, suspending electronic communications to make it harder to find him, three Iranian officials familiar with his emergency war plans say.
Ensconced in a bunker, the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has picked an array of replacements down his chain of military command in case more of his valued lieutenants are killed.
And in a remarkable move, the officials add, Ayatollah Khamenei has even named three senior clerics as candidates to succeed him should he be killed, as well — perhaps the most telling illustration of the precarious moment he and his three-decade rule are facing.
Ayatollah Khamenei has taken an extraordinary series of steps to preserve the Islamic Republic ever since Israel launched a series of surprise attacks last Friday.
The New York Times explained that Khamenei, 86, clearly aware he is a likely target, has provided a list of three names for the Iranian Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible for appointing the supreme leader, to choose his successor from, should he be assassinated.
The report came earlier on Saturday, prior to the surprise U.S. military strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites.
Commenting on the report, a source close to the Trump White House told the New York Post, “If you need any more evidence that the ayatollah is shaking in his boots, look no further than him identifying his three stooges.”
“Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not only picked replacements in his chain of military command in case they are killed in Israeli strikes, he has also named three senior clerics to replace him should he, too, be slain.” #Iran https://t.co/DXHiBPlZen
— NATOSource (@NATOSource) June 21, 2025
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