Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly plans to escape to Moscow if his security team falters or turns on him amid ongoing unrest in his country featuring protesters chanting for his death.
Khamenei, 86, will catch a flight with his inner circle, including roughly 20 aides and members of his family, if the Islamic Republic’s army is overwhelmed by the swelling numbers of protests – or if they decide to defect, an intelligence source told The Times.
His son and “nominated heir apparent” would also flee, the source said.
Khamenei’s general escape plan mirrors that of fallen Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, who fled Damascus by plane and landed in Moscow with his family – while the country’s opposition forces stormed the nation’s capital in December 2024.
“They have plotted an exit route out of Tehran should they feel the need to escape,” which includes “gathering assets, properties abroad and cash to facilitate their safe passage”, the source said.
Iran and Russia have historically had close ties, and Khamanei “admires Putin,” the source added.
At least 19 people have been killed in the protests, which have spread to 22 of the Islamic Republic’s 31 provinces.
Many crowds have called for “Death to Khamenei” – but the Ayatollah originally brushed off their vitriol and vowed to put the demonstrators “in their place.”
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