Khamenei Enters Tehran Bunker; Son Manages Office as US Forces Head to Region

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly moved into a fortified underground bunker in Tehran amid heightened fears of a potential US military strike, sources close to the government told Iran International. The shelter, described as a heavily reinforced complex with interconnected tunnels, is designed to provide maximum protection during wartime contingencies.

According to the report, Khamenei’s third son, Masoud Khamenei, has assumed day-to-day management of the supreme leader’s office. Masoud is now serving as the primary channel of communication with Iran’s executive branches while his father remains in the secure facility.

The move comes as tensions between Tehran and Washington escalate sharply. US President Donald Trump recently warned that an American naval “armada,” including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers, is heading toward the Middle East. “We are deploying warships just in case I decide to act against Iran,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. Additional US and Israeli air defense systems are also being positioned in the region, while the UK plans to send RAF Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Qatar at Doha’s request.

Also Read: Iran Supreme Leader Targets Trump Amid Nationwide Unrest

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, under commander General Mohammad Pakpour, responded with a stern warning, stating that Iranian forces are “more ready than ever, finger on the trigger” to carry out the supreme leader’s orders. A senior Iranian official further cautioned that any attack would be treated as an “all-out war,” with Iran responding decisively.

The current military brinkmanship follows weeks of nationwide unrest in Iran. Protests, which began in late December due to economic hardships and the steep devaluation of the rial, have been met with a sweeping security crackdown and a prolonged internet shutdown. Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that at least 5,002 people, including children, have been killed, while over 26,500 arrests have been made. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urged Iran to halt what he described as “brutal repression” and impose a moratorium on the death penalty.

Amid these tensions, Iran’s ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, publicly thanked New Delhi for opposing a UN Human Rights Council resolution seeking greater scrutiny of Iran’s human rights record. He described India’s stance as “principled and firm,” highlighting its significance during the ongoing Iran-US standoff.

Also Read: Iran Declares Resolve to Repel Foreign Threats in Face of US Pressure Over Protests