Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly been relocated to a high-security underground bunker amid escalating fears of a possible US military strike. The move comes as protests continue across Iran and security forces carry out a crackdown on demonstrators. Sources say Khamenei’s third son, Masoud Khamenei, has assumed management of the leader’s daily affairs during this period.
The heightened alert follows US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a naval deployment toward Iran. “We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it,” Trump said, confirming that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and accompanying warships are moving closer to the Middle East.
Tensions between Tehran and Washington intensified after nationwide protests erupted on December 28, 2025, triggered by the collapse of Iran’s currency, the rial. US officials have expressed concern over Iran’s handling of the unrest, including the mass detention and reported execution of hundreds of protesters, despite Iran claiming a temporary halt of executions.
A senior Iranian official warned that any US attack would trigger a full-scale response. “This time we will treat any attack… as an all-out war against us, and we will respond in the hardest way possible,” the official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Iranian state media have also broadcast warnings referencing past assassination attempts, underscoring the country’s high alert.
As both sides maintain a strong military posture, international observers warn that the risk of a wider regional conflict is rising, with diplomatic efforts at a standstill.