Iran Warns of Foreign Attempts to Target Supreme Leader Khamenei

Iran’s intelligence ministry has issued a stern warning regarding alleged attempts by foreign adversaries, including the United States and Israel, to target Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and destabilise the Islamic Republic.

According to the ISNA news agency, Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib cautioned that “the enemy seeks to target the supreme leader, sometimes with assassination attempts, sometimes with hostile attacks.” He added, “Those who act in this direction, knowingly or unknowingly, are the infiltrating agents of the enemy,” directly referring to Israel and the US.

While no specific incident was cited, statements about threats against Khamenei’s life have been rare, though tensions escalated during a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran in June. During the conflict, Israel reportedly targeted Iranian military officials, nuclear scientists, and critical facilities, with the US later conducting strikes on key nuclear sites.

Reports during the war suggested that US President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei to prevent escalation. Trump had previously called Iran’s supreme leader a “very easy target” but stated, “we are not going to take him out, at least not for now.” He later claimed on Truth Social that he had saved Khamenei from “A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH.”

The 86-year-old Khamenei, who has led Iran since 1989, holds final authority over all state matters. Earlier this year, President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed concern for the leader’s safety, fearing internal unrest, while Khamenei himself said Israel’s attacks aimed to sow “unrest and bring people into the streets to overthrow the system.”

Although a ceasefire between Iran and Israel has been in place since June 24, both nations, along with the US, have warned of potential future strikes should Iran revive its nuclear program.