Ali Khamenei Disappears as Iran crumbles under fire

Following an unprecedented wave of Israeli airstrikes battering Iran the last 4 days and the unraveling of its regional alliances, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has notably disappeared from public view. Known for his cautious and calculated approach to leadership, Khamenei’s sudden absence at this critical juncture has fueled widespread speculation and concern within Iran and beyond.

As cities across the country grapple with mounting panic and uncertainty, the silence surrounding Iran’s top leader has raised urgent questions about the regime’s stability and the future direction of the Islamic Republic. Observers note that Khamenei’s disappearance comes at a time when strong, visible leadership is crucial, intensifying fears over Tehran’s ability to respond effectively to the escalating crisis.

Iran’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is increasingly isolated as Israeli airstrikes decimate his closest military and security advisers. Since Friday, several key figures in Khamenei’s inner circle have been killed, including top commanders of the Revolutionary Guards: Hossein Salami, the overall commander; Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of Iran’s ballistic missile program; and spymaster Mohammad Kazemi. Sources close to Khamenei warn that these losses create dangerous gaps in Iran’s leadership, raising the risk of critical miscalculations on defense and internal stability.

According to five individuals familiar with Khamenei’s decision-making, the elite circle of roughly 15 to 20 advisers, including Guards commanders, clerics, and politicians, is now severely weakened.

Despite fears of escalation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told ABC News that targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader would actually bring the conflict to an end. When asked about reports that former U.S. President Donald Trump rejected an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei, Netanyahu said, “It’s not going to escalate the conflict, it’s going to end the conflict.”