Iran's intelligence ministry has issued a warning about attempts by external enemies, such as Israel and the United States, to target Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's supreme leader, and destabilize the Islamic republic.
Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib warned that "the enemy seeks to target the supreme leader, sometimes with assassination attempts, sometimes with hostile attacks," according to a Saturday report from the nation's ISNA news agency.
Prior to a 12 day conflict between Israel and Iran in June, remarks regarding threats against Khamenei's life had been uncommon, however it was unclear at first if the minister was referring to a specific incident because Iranian authorities frequently accuse foreign conspiracies.
"Those who act in this direction, knowingly or unknowingly, are the infiltrating agents of the enemy," Khatib continued, making explicit reference to the US and Israel.
Israel targeted civilian areas, nuclear scientists, and senior Iranian military personnel during the confrontation earlier this year. The US later joined in with strikes on important nuclear facilities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was dismissive when asked about allegations during the war that US President Donald Trump blocked an Israeli plan to assassinate the supreme leader because he feared it would intensify the Iran Israel confrontation, but he claimed the action would "end the conflict" instead.
Additionally, Trump had declared at the time that Iran's top leader was a "very easy target" and that "we are not going to take him out, at least not for now." Later, he claimed to have prevented Iran's supreme leader from "A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH" in a post on Truth Social.
Since 1989, the 86 year old Khamenei has served as Iran's supreme leader and has the last word on all matters pertaining to the country.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian stated earlier this month that he was especially worried about Khamenei's safety during the conflict and that he was afraid the nation's institutions "would start fighting among each other."
Israel's attacks throughout the war, according to Khamenei in July, were meant to damage the Islamic republic and sow "unrest and bring people into the streets to overthrow the system."
Although there has been a ceasefire between Iran and Israel since June 24, if Tehran resumes its nuclear program, both Israel and the United States have promised to launch additional attacks.
