In response to escalating speculation about a potential U.S. military action, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reportedly moved to a heavily fortified underground facility in Tehran. Sources close to the Iranian leadership indicate that Khamenei’s son has now taken over the day-to-day operations.
This move, as reported by Iran International, highlights the increasing tension between Tehran and Washington, fueled by Iran’s repeated threats against American forces, internal suppression, and its regional destabilization efforts through support of various terror groups across the Middle East.
The underground facility is described by insiders as an extensive bunker network, featuring interconnected tunnels designed to protect the leadership and ensure continuity in the event of an attack.
Moreover, Khamenei’s third son, Masoud, is said to have taken control of the supreme leader’s office operations. He now acts as a critical link between Iran’s top leadership and its governmental ministries, concentrating further power within the Khamenei family amid growing concerns over instability among Iran’s ruling elite.
This consolidation occurs against a backdrop of domestic unrest, which initially sparked from merchant strikes in Tehran. Reports suggest that over 30,000 demonstrators have been killed during this period of turmoil, marked by internet blackouts, mass arrests, and lethal force. These events are seen as a reflection of the economic mismanagement, political repression, and the severe devaluation of the rial under Khamenei’s leadership.
Amidst these developments, President Trump, last Saturday, publicly called for a change in leadership in Iran. He denounced Khamenei following the Supreme Leader’s accusations that Trump was instigating unrest within the Islamic Republic. “It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran,” Trump asserted, attributing the regime’s deterioration to its own catastrophic governance rather than to external pressures.
Last Saturday, President Trump publicly called for “new leadership” in Iran, rebuking Khamenei after the Supreme Leader accused him of inciting unrest inside the Islamic Republic. “It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran,” Trump said, charging that the regime’s decay stems from catastrophic governance rather than foreign pressure.
The threat followed a wave of anti-American rhetoric from top officials, including Khamenei directly accusing President Trump of inciting violent protests, calling him “guilty” of causing mass casualties and declaring, “The Iranian nation defeated the U.S.”
As tensions escalate, Washington is backing its warnings with concrete military deployments — including the repositioning of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group from the South China Sea to the Middle East — alongside a parallel economic crackdown targeting Iran’s ruling elite.
On Thursday, President Trump warned that a “big force” is heading toward Iran and that officials are “watching them very closely,” telling reporters aboard Air Force One, “We have a big flotilla going in that direction, and we’ll see what happens. It’s a big force.”
The regime’s decision to shelter its highest authority underground highlights its fear of American strength and raises fresh questions about Tehran’s readiness for conflict, as it continues backing terror abroad and crushing dissent at home.
