Ayatollah Khamenei’s Secret ‘Plan B’: Flee Tehran Like Assad
Plot to Bolt Tehran Like Assad
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader, is reportedly ready to ditch Tehran with 20 close family members and aides if Iran’s security forces start cracking amid nationwide protests. Intelligence sources say he’s drawn up a contingency escape route to Moscow—mirroring Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s suspected flight to Russia in late 2024 before rebels took over Damascus.
A source told The Times: “They have plotted an exit route out of Tehran should they feel the need to escape.” The plan includes sliding overseas assets, cash, and properties out of Iran to fund the getaway.
Ex-Israeli spy Beni Sabti, who fled Iran years ago, says: “Moscow represents Mr Khamenei’s only viable destination.” He adds the Iranian and Russian cultures align, plus Khamenei’s well-known admiration for Vladimir Putin.
Elite Circle in Jeopardy
- Khamenei’s son and heir, Mojtaba Khamenei, is named in the escape plan.
- The Supreme Leader’s fortune, managed via the secretive Setad foundation, is valued at a staggering $95 billion (£70.6 billion).
- Top officials close to Khamenei have family in Canada, the US, and Dubai, hinting at broader emergency exit strategies.
Signs of Weakness Under Pressure
Western intelligence describes Khamenei as a “paranoid,” physically and mentally weakened figure after Iran’s brutal 12-day war with Israel in 2025. Reports claim he hid in a bunker during the conflict. His eerie silence amid mass protests in Tehran, Qom, and beyond is fuelling rumours about his health and slipping grip on power.
Huge protests rage amid economic collapse and soaring inflation. Crowds chant: “No to Gaza, no to Lebanon, I’d give my life for Iran only,” blasting Khamenei’s costly support for militias like Hezbollah and Hamas.
The Ayatollah still controls Iran’s military, police, judiciary, and state media, and security forces are cracking down hard with live rounds, tear gas, and water cannon. But the fear of defections is real—at the heart of the secret flight plan.
Endgame for Iran’s Iron Fist?
Khamenei’s secret getaway plan lays bare his deep fears of a regime collapse—a nightmare sparked by Assad’s near downfall. His vast wealth and family’s foreign ties show he’s preparing for exile, likely protected by Putin’s Russia, Iran’s crucial backer in the region.
As Iran burns with unrest, the Supreme Leader’s silence and escape plan prove even the hardest dictators know when to run.
