As reported by the NYT, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has essentially transferred authority over the nation to his most trusted colleague.
© Reuters
In the beginning of January, amidst widespread demonstrations and the looming danger of strikes from the United States, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, looked to a reliable and dedicated assistant, the chief national security advisor, to assume control.
This information is according to the New York Times.
Based on the publications, Ali Larijani, who oversees Iran's national security, has purportedly been effectively governing Iran since that point.
“We are ready in our country,” Larijani conveyed to Al Jazeera during his visit to Doha, the capital of Qatar, this month. “We are definitely stronger than before. We have been preparing for the last seven to eight months. We have found our weaknesses and corrected them. We are not looking for war and we will not start one. But if they (the US and Israel – Ed.) impose one on us, we will respond.”
According to six high-ranking Iranian officials, Ayatollah Khamenei entrusted Larijani, along with several other close political and military confidants, with the responsibility of ensuring Iran’s survival, not just from American and Israeli bombings but also from any attempts to assassinate its senior leadership, including Ayatollah Khamenei himself.
Iran is operating under the premise that US military action is unavoidable, even as both sides continue discussions about diplomatic and nuclear agreements.
Iran has placed all of its armed forces on heightened alert and is bracing for intense resistance.
As per the report, Tehran is positioning ballistic missile launchers along the western border with Iraq — sufficiently close to reach Israel — and along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf, within striking distance of American military installations and other targets in the region.
In recent weeks, Iran has occasionally shut down its airspace for missile testing. It has also carried out military drills in the Persian Gulf, briefly closing the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime bottleneck for global energy resources.
Throughout this period, Ayatollah Khamenei has stood firm in his stance.
“The most powerful army in the world could be so badly beaten that it would be unable to get back on its feet,” he stated in a speech last week. He also issued a threat to sink American warships that had congregated in neighboring waters.
It is worth noting that Iran has witnessed its largest protests in 50 years. According to human rights organizations, potentially thousands have perished during 16 days of nationwide protests against the government there.
As reported by Axios , Trump is considering various courses of action against Iran — ranging from a negotiated nuclear agreement to potential military strikes targeting the country’s leadership, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.