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Iran’s intelligence minister has warned of attempts by foreign adversaries, including the United States and Israel, to target Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and destabilize the Islamic Republic, the ISNA news agency reported Saturday.
Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib said, “The enemy seeks to target the supreme leader, sometimes with assassination attempts, sometimes with hostile attacks.”
Khatib, referring directly to Israel and the U.S., added, “Those who act in this direction, knowingly or unknowingly, are the infiltrating agents of the enemy.”
He did not specify any particular incident, though statements on threats against Khamenei have been rare before the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June.
During the conflict earlier this year, Israel targeted senior Iranian military officials, nuclear scientists, key sites and residential areas. The U.S. later joined the strikes on nuclear facilities.
Reports surfaced during the war that U.S. President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Khamenei over fears it would escalate the confrontation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the reports but said such a move would “end the conflict.”
Trump called Iran’s supreme leader a “very easy target,” adding, “We are not going to take him out, at least not for now.”
He later claimed on Truth Social that he had saved Khamenei from “a very ugly and ignominious death.”
Khamenei, 86, has held his position since 1989 and has the final say on all state matters.
Earlier this month, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he feared for Khamenei’s life during the war and worried that Iranian institutions “would start fighting among each other.”
In July, Khamenei said Israel’s attacks aimed to weaken Iran, create unrest, and “bring people into the streets to overthrow the system.”
A ceasefire between Iran and Israel has been in place since June 24, but both Israel and the United States have threatened additional strikes if Tehran revives its nuclear program.
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