Ex-IRGC commander says he warned of plot to kill Ali Khamenei

Hossein Alaei, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, has said he warned Ali Shamkhani, a former adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, three days before the outbreak of war that the United States and Israel would initiate the conflict by targeting Iran’s leadership through assassinations.

According to Alaei, Shamkhani dismissed the concern, responding that such an operation would not succeed because “they could not kill Ali Khamenei because they would not be able to find him.”

Alaei also referred to extensive protective infrastructure surrounding Khamenei, stating that a large underground shelter had been constructed beneath his compound. The facility reportedly extends for approximately five kilometres and lies at a depth of around 40 meters.

Assessing the broader strategic context, Alaei said he believed that the United States and Israel had developed a multi-stage plan against Iran. He said their “plan A had been the 12-day war,” while “their plan B was the January protests.” According to his assessment, he had predicted that “their plan C would begin with killing Khamenei.”

However, narratives around the Supreme Leader’s security measures remain contested. Supporters of the Islamic Republic have insisted that Khamenei did not use the underground shelter.

At the same time, Amir-Hossein Sabeti, a member of parliament, offered a different perspective in a public street speech. He stated that one factor behind the assassination was that Iran had been unprepared due to the prevailing atmosphere of negotiations, adding that authorities had “failed to take the necessary measures to protect his life.”

By Tamilla Hasanova