Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is prepared to flee to Moscow if his regime faces collapse, according to an intelligence report cited by The Times of Israel.
The report claims the 86-year-old leader would leave Tehran with senior aides and family members if security forces fail to suppress the escalating protests, or if elements within the regime abandon him during the unrest.
According to reports, a “plan B” has been prepared for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his inner circle, including his son and designated successor, Mojtaba.
The revelation comes as mounting unrest, driven by worsening economic conditions, continues to place significant pressure on Iran’s ruling Islamic system.
Amid the tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that if Iranian authorities opened fire on their own citizens, the United States would intervene to protect protesters. Iran’s Foreign Minister rejected the remarks, condemning them as “reckless and dangerous.”
The escalating situation unfolds as Tehran is still dealing with the aftermath of Israel’s 12-day offensive in June, along with subsequent U.S. airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.
Economic strain has intensified further since September, when the United Nations reinstated sanctions over Iran’s nuclear programme. As a result, the national currency has collapsed, with the rial now reportedly worth around 1.4 million to the U.S. dollar (NZ$1.74).
At the same time, Iran’s regional influence has weakened significantly, with its so-called “Axis of Resistance” — an alliance of states and militant groups aligned with Tehran — severely diminished since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted in 2023.
Adding to the tension, U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning that Washington would “come to the rescue” if Iranian authorities violently suppressed peaceful demonstrators has gained renewed relevance, particularly after American forces detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a key ally of Tehran.
