Iran’s supreme leader moved to secure location amid escalating conflict
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been relocated to a secure location within Iran, following heightened security concerns, sources told Reuters. This development comes a day after Israel killed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, a Lebanese group backed by Iran, during an airstrike on Beirut.
This precautionary move to protect Iran’s top decision-maker reflects the growing tension within the country, as Israel continues to launch a series of devastating strikes against Hezbollah, Iran’s most powerful ally in the region. Earlier this month, Reuters reported that Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards Corps had ordered its members to cease using communication devices, after thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah were destroyed.
Lebanon and Hezbollah have accused Israel of being responsible for the attacks on their communication devices. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement.
Two regional officials, briefed by Tehran, confirmed to Reuters that Khamenei had been moved to safety. They also noted that Iran was in contact with Hezbollah and other regional proxy groups to coordinate a response following Nasrallah’s death. The sources chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the situation.
In addition to Nasrallah, Israel’s Friday strikes on Beirut also killed Abbas Nilforoushan, the deputy commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, as reported by Iranian media. Several other commanders of the Revolutionary Guards have also been killed since the outbreak of the Gaza War last year, further escalating the violence.
Following Israel’s confirmation of Nasrallah’s death, Khamenei issued a statement asserting, “The fate of this region will be determined by the forces of resistance, with Hezbollah at the forefront.” He declared five days of mourning to honor Nasrallah, vowing that “the blood of the martyr shall not go unavenged.”
Nasrallah’s death deals a significant blow to Iran, as he was instrumental in shaping Hezbollah into a key component of Iran’s network of regional allies, often referred to as the “Axis of Resistance.” This alliance spans from Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, to militias in Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen.
Amidst ongoing hostilities, Hezbollah continues to engage in cross-border fire with Israel during the Gaza War, vowing to fight until a ceasefire is achieved in Gaza. The Houthis have also launched missile strikes at Israel and ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, contributing to the expanding regional conflict.
After the attacks on Hezbollah’s communication devices, an Iranian security official revealed that the Revolutionary Guards had launched a large-scale operation to inspect all devices. These devices were reportedly homemade or sourced from China and Russia, and Iran fears infiltration by Israeli agents. A thorough investigation into personnel within the Revolutionary Guards, particularly targeting mid and high-ranking members, has already begun.
In a separate statement, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States of complicity in Nasrallah’s death, as a supplier of weapons to Israel. He said, “The Americans cannot deny their complicity with the Zionists,” according to Iranian state media.
