The supreme Iranian leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, took refuge in his underground shelter. Sources say Israel could have eliminated it, but offered a last chance.
Supreme Iranian leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, took refuge in a photo bunker: Profimedia
The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamena, was evacuated in an underground bunker in northeastern Tehran, immediately after Israel launched a series of air attacks on Friday, according to Iran International, citing two sources inside the country.
Khamenei is in the Bunker in Lavizan with his family, including his son Mojtaba. The sources state that the Iranian leader took refuge in the same shelter and during the attacks launched by Iran on the April and October 2024. On those occasions, Mojtaba was with him, but two other sons, Masoud and Mostafa, were not then in the bunker, according to news.ro.
Mutual attacks and increasing tensions
The first direct Iran attack on Israel took place on April 13, 2024. Then over 300 rockets and drones targeted Israeli military targets, in response to the killing of two Iranian generals in Damascus. On October 1, 2024, Iran launched a new offensive with approximately 200 missiles, in reaction to the assassination of militant leaders supported by Tehran, including former leader Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah.
On Sunday, the Israeli forces hit the city of Mashhad for the first time, over 2,300 kilometers away. A diplomatic source in the Middle East told Iran International that this attack was a clear signal for Khamena's Ayatollah: You are nowhere to Iran.
Israel spared life intentionally?
According to the same diplomatic source, Israel would have had the opportunity to eliminate Khamena on the first night of the operation, but chose not to. The Israeli government has decided to keep it alive to give you one last chance to decide on the complete dismantling of the Uranium enrichment program of the Islamic Republic, sources say.
In the past, US President Donald Trump would have given the Iranian leader for two months to give up this program. But Khamene has ignored both the United States and Israel's warnings.
Two American officials told Reuters on Sunday that Donald Trump recently opposed to Khamene's Assassin Israel.
