Ayatollah Khamenei will ‘flee Iran for Moscow’ if protests overwhelm safety forces, says intelligence report | EUROtoday

Iran’s supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has a plan to flee the nation for Russia if ongoing protests within the nation overwhelm his safety forces, based on a report.

The 86-year-old will escape Tehran with as much as 20 aides and household if it turns into clear that the military and safety forces tasked with suppressing the protests are defecting or failing to observe orders, an intelligence supply instructed The Times.

“The ‘plan B’ is for Khamenei and his very close circle of associates and family, including his son and nominated heir apparent, Mojtaba,” the supply mentioned.

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At least 17 individuals had been killed throughout the protests as of Monday, based on human rights teams. The protests have largely targeted on the collapse of the nation’s forex, with some demonstrators calling for the overthrow of the Ayatollah.

Mr Khamenei would possible flee to Moscow as it’s his solely remaining choice, based on Beni Sabti, an operative who served in Israeli intelligence for many years earlier than fleeing the regime eight years following the Islamic revolution in 1979.

The Ayatollah “admires Putin, while the Iranian culture is more similar to the Russian culture”, and he would subsequently select Russia if he have been pressured to flee the nation, the supply mentioned.

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His plan consists of an “exit route out of Tehran should they feel the need to escape” and consists of “gathering assets, properties abroad and cash to facilitate their safe passage”, based on the newspaper.

Tehran’s efforts to quell a wave of anti-government protests have thus far been unsuccessful, and are actually additional sophisticated by Donald Trump’s risk to intervene on behalf of the protests. His warning was firmly underlined by the following US seize of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, officers and insiders mentioned on Monday.

But the protests don’t but match the dimensions of unrest that swept the nation in 2022-23 over the dying of Mahsa Amini, who died within the custody of Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating the hijab regulation.

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The protests have nonetheless expanded shortly from an financial focus to broader frustrations, with some protesters chanting “Down with the Islamic Republic” or “Death to the dictator”, a reference to Mr Khamenei.

Authorities have mentioned protests over the financial system are reputable and shall be met by dialogue, however have reacted with brutal drive. Human rights teams accuse the regime’s safety forces of “indiscriminate targeting of civilians”.

Widening disparities between extraordinary Iranians and a privileged clerical and safety elite, compounded by mismanagement, excessive inflation and corruption, have fuelled public anger.

President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged dialogue and promised reforms to stabilise the financial and banking methods and defend buying energy.