Ayatollah Khamenei Enters Hiding Amid U.S. Military Buildup in Middle East
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly gone into hiding out of fear that U.S. airstrikes could target him, according to reports. This follows a statement by former President Donald Trump on Saturday, who described an “armada” of U.S. ships heading toward the Middle East amid mass protests in Iran.
Trump characterized the deployment as a “good sign,” noting that Iran had decided not to hang protesters and suggesting the military buildup might prevent further escalation. Masoud Khamenei, the ayatollah’s third son, has assumed oversight of the supreme leader’s daily operations and now serves as the primary conduit for communication with Iran’s executive branches.
The commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps warned on Saturday that his forces are “more ready than ever, finger on the trigger” as U.S. warships approached the region. General Mohammad Pakpour stated in a recent report that both the military and Iran stand prepared to “execute the orders and directives of the Commander-in-Chief.”
Tensions between Iran and the United States remain high after a violent crackdown on protests began on December 28, triggered by the collapse of Iran’s currency and spreading over two weeks. The unrest has reportedly resulted in more than 40,000 arrests, with concerns that some detainees could face capital punishment.
