by Our Correspondent in Doha
New reports have emerged alleging that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his inner circle ordered a covert plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in what they believed would be a decisive blow in the escalating conflict between the two nations.
According to multiple Western and regional media sources, including Iran International — a Western-funded, anti-Iranian regime media outlet — Khamenei and his family have been secretly relocated to a fortified underground bunker in a mountainous area north of Tehran. This move reportedly came after a series of Israeli drone and missile strikes on Tehran, raising fears within Iran’s leadership of a targeted attack.
Two anonymous sources speaking to Iran International revealed that Khamenei’s son, Moshtaba Khamenei — often mentioned as a potential successor — was initially the only family member with the Supreme Leader in the bunker during earlier clashes. However, recent reports indicate that the entire family now shares the secure compound, reflecting escalating concerns over their safety.
Additional sources inside Tehran indicate that the Iranian leadership believed Khamenei was a primary target during a coordinated assassination attempt last Friday, allegedly orchestrated by Israel or its collaborators within Tehran and other locations. Though the Supreme Leader was the main intended target, the plot reportedly failed, and the assassination attempt was missed. Iranian authorities have since arrested a significant number of individuals accused of working with foreign intelligence, following some of the deadliest attacks in Iran’s recent history which resulted in the deaths of key military and civilian officials.
In a related development, Iranian media reported on Monday that a Mossad spy was executed after a full criminal trial, with the verdict upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court. This execution underscores Tehran’s intensified crackdown on espionage amid heightened tensions with Israel.
The alleged assassination plot has sparked widespread media coverage, fueled by reports from U.S. officials who claim that former President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to eliminate Khamenei. According to these sources, Israeli authorities saw an opportunity to strike but were overruled by Washington in an effort to avoid a full-scale escalation.
In response to these claims, Israeli officials have firmly denied any such orders or plans. Netanyahu, during an interview with Fox News, dismissed the reports as “false” and refused to comment on the details. Israel’s National Security Council adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, labeled the stories “fake news” and insisted that Israel does not seek U.S. approval before undertaking such operations.
“There is no immunity for the Iranian political leadership,” Hanegbi stated, “but it was not, at least in the initial stage, a decision to target them. We will not disclose our plans in advance.”
U.S. administration sources told Reuters that Washington is reluctant to escalate tensions by targeting Iran’s top political figures unless American lives are directly threatened. “Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No,” one senior official said. “Until that happens, we are not considering attacks on Iran’s leadership.”
The timing of these revelations coincides with the abrupt cancellation of scheduled nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran in Oman, following the recent Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. Trump had reportedly expressed hope for renewed diplomacy with Tehran but faced a complicated landscape amid rising hostilities.
Israeli media also report that Israel continues to consider all options in its efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, including potential strikes on high-level targets like Khamenei. However, no official confirmation has been given regarding any specific assassination plans.
As the situation remains tense, analysts warn that the combination of secret military actions, political posturing, and conflicting narratives could push the region closer to an all-out confrontation. The relocation of Iran’s Supreme Leader to a secure bunker and the execution of an alleged Mossad spy underscore the fragility of the current status quo and highlight the dangerous stakes involved.
