Iran threatens "unlimited response" if Ayatollah Khamenei targeted

An attempt to attack Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would close the door to any negotiations or deal with the Islamic Republic and provoke a response by all available means, a senior Iranian official told Reuters.

“Such a move would be seen by Iran as crossing all red lines and would justify an unlimited response,” the source said.

The June 2025 Israeli airstrikes, which targeted Iran’s nuclear, military, and infrastructure sites, killed several of Khamenei’s key military advisors, including senior Revolutionary Guards commanders. This prompted further caution, with Khamenei reportedly avoiding electronic communications and relying on trusted aides to interact with military commanders.

A New York Times report on June 22 noted that Khamenei, aware of assassination risks, had retreated to a bunker and instructed the Assembly of Experts to prepare for a swift succession process, naming three potential successors to ensure regime stability. The Telegraph reported on June 21, 2025, that Khamenei’s protection was entrusted to a secretive elite unit, unknown even to senior Revolutionary Guards, highlighting the regime’s paranoia about internal leaks.

By Khagan Isayev