Western intelligence officials say Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's inner circle has already begun preparing overseas
By Sammy,
Western intelligence officials say Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's inner circle has already begun preparing overseas properties, moving cash and mapping exit routes from Tehran, laying the groundwork for a rapid departure if Iran's unrest overwhelms the regime.
That preparation, according to an assessment shared with The Sunday Times, is tied to a secret contingency plan that would see the 86-year-old supreme leader flee the country alongside only a handful of trusted relatives and aides should loyalty among Iran's security forces begin to falter.
The intelligence profile paints Khamenei as increasingly consumed by survival, pointing to his decision to remain inside a bunker during last year's 12-day war with Israel and describing a steady decline in both physical and mental resilience.
Former Israeli intelligence officer Beni Sabti said the most likely destination would be Moscow, explaining that Khamenei "admires Putin" and has no realistic refuge elsewhere, drawing parallels to former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad's flight to Russia in 2024.
The warning comes as demonstrations fueled by economic distress continue to spread across Iran, with officials monitoring the IRGC, Basij, police and army for any signs of hesitation that could trigger the activation of the escape plan.
Topics: Iran, Syria
Reported by Sammy for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.