Overview
- ISNA quoted Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib saying “the enemy seeks to target the supreme leader, sometimes with assassination attempts, sometimes with hostile attacks,” without citing a specific incident.
- Khatib directly named the United States and Israel as the adversaries and said anyone aiding such efforts was acting as an infiltrator for hostile powers.
- Such public claims had been uncommon before the June 12-day Israel–Iran conflict, when Israel struck Iranian officials, scientists and sites and the United States later hit key nuclear facilities.
- A ceasefire has held since June 24, yet Israel and the United States have warned of renewed strikes if Tehran advances its nuclear program, keeping tensions unresolved.
- Iranian leaders warn a successful attack could trigger institutional infighting; during the war President Masoud Pezeshkian voiced concern for Khamenei’s safety, while Trump claimed he blocked an Israeli plan and Israel’s Israel Katz threatened to target Khamenei personally.