Iran Issues Stern Warning: Foreign Adversaries Target Supreme Leader Khamenei
The Islamic Republic of Iran has issued a grave warning regarding alleged foreign plots aimed at its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The country's intelligence ministry, through Minister Esmail Khatib, explicitly named the United States and Israel as adversaries seeking to destabilize Iran and even target the 86-year-old leader, who has held supreme authority since 1989.
Direct Threats and Rare Public Statements
According to Iran's ISNA news agency, Khatib cautioned on November 22 that “the enemy seeks to target the supreme leader, sometimes with assassination attempts, sometimes with hostile attacks.” While Iranian officials frequently allege foreign conspiracies, such direct statements concerning threats to Ayatollah Khamenei's life were exceptionally rare before the intense 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran in June 2025. Khatib further elaborated, stating, “Those who act in this direction, knowingly or unknowingly, are the infiltrating agents of the enemy,” clearly referring to Israel and the US.
Echoes of the June 2025 Conflict
The June conflict saw Israel launch strikes against senior Iranian military figures, nuclear scientists, and critical sites, including residential zones. The United States later joined these operations, targeting key Iranian nuclear facilities. This period of heightened tension brought to light remarkable claims concerning the Supreme Leader's safety.
Trump's Controversial Claims and Netanyahu's Response
During the war, reports surfaced suggesting that then-US President Donald Trump had vetoed an Israeli proposal to assassinate Ayatollah Khamenei, fearing it would dangerously escalate the Iran-Israel confrontation. Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was dismissive of these specific reports, he did acknowledge that such a move would “end the conflict.” Trump himself had previously described Khamenei as a “very easy target” and famously posted on Truth Social that he had “saved Iran’s supreme leader from 'A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH'.”
Internal Concerns and Strategic Intentions
Concerns for Ayatollah Khamenei's well-being were not limited to foreign powers. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his profound worry during the June war, fearing that the Supreme Leader's death could plunge Iran's institutions into internal strife. Ayatollah Khamenei himself had commented in July that Israel's attacks were designed to weaken the Islamic republic, “sow unrest and bring people into the streets to overthrow the system.”
Lingering Tensions Amidst Ceasefire
A ceasefire has been in effect between Iran and Israel since June 24. However, both Israel and the United States continue to issue threats of renewed strikes should Tehran decide to revive its nuclear program, maintaining a tense equilibrium in the volatile region. The latest warning from Iran's intelligence ministry underscores the deep-seated mistrust and ongoing geopolitical machinations surrounding its leadership.