Foreign adversaries, including the US and Israel, have reportedly sought to assassinate Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The intelligence chief of Iran has accused these countries of plotting to destabilize the country by targeting Khamenei, a claim that has drawn significant attention. The allegations come against the backdrop of recent tensions between Iran and Israel, particularly following the 12-day war in June.
The war erupted over Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and military commanders, with the United States providing support to Israel’s actions. Iran has condemned these strikes as unprovoked, stating that the country has no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons. The intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, alleged that the enemy, including the US and Israel, has sought to target Khamenei through both assassination attempts and hostile attacks. Additionally, Khatib warned that those involved in such activities, knowingly or unknowingly, are agents of the enemy, highlighting the presence of infiltration and espionage within Israel’s institutions.
The intelligence breach, coupled with Iran’s firm stance during the conflict, is said to indicate shifting regional power dynamics. Earlier in the year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed reports that US President Donald Trump had vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei, while suggesting that such an attack would have ended the war. Trump had previously referred to Khamenei as an ‘easy target’ and claimed Washington would not ‘take him out, at least not for now,’ later stating that he had spared the Iranian leader from ‘A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH.’ Khamenei, who has held the position since 1989, holds final authority over all state affairs, making his safety a critical concern for Iran.