All articles tagged with #khamenei
A NYT report says Iran's leadership is split, with hard-liners sabotaging negotiations with the US as Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei remains unseen; the July strikes on three ships were ordered by Hossein Taeb, illustrating the hard-liner push toward escalation, while the two factions clash over how to move past the stalemate, complicating any potential deal.
Two luxury London penthouses linked to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei have been placed for sale in a receivership process; one is a five-bedroom duplex bought for £19m in 2016 and now listed for just under £12m, the other occupies the seventh and eighth floors with an undisclosed price. The registered owner, Iranian banker Ali Ansari, is under U.S. sanctions, and lenders’ receivership follows mortgage defaults, highlighting how sanctions complicate the regime’s overseas assets.
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei released a written statement for Islamic Unity Week urging Islamic countries, especially in West Asia and the Gulf, to identify their 'real enemy,' unite under Islam, and confront it; the message, posted on Telegram, comes as U.S. sanctions intensify and weigh on Iran's economy.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged that U.S. sanctions and a naval blockade have battered Tehran’s economy, saying “we are in a war situation” as exports and imports fall about 25–35% and inflation spikes toward roughly 66%. He indicated Tehran may raise fuel prices to offset losses while focusing on inflation control, jobs, and domestic production, and reiterated the regime’s stance against retreat in the confrontation with Washington. The United States has framed the effort as economic pressure—Operation Economic Outcast—seeking to choke Iran’s revenue streams, including sanctions on Banque Misr UAE.
A Likud billboard in Tel Aviv features Zohran Mamdani beside Ayatollah Khamenei, Turkish President Erdogan, and Hezbollah’s Naim Qassem, with the claim that they “want Netanyahu to lose,” triggering spoof replies from rival parties and reflecting a heated, closely watched election season amid Qatar-related controversy.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled a Tel Aviv billboard pairing NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Hezbollah’s Naim Qassem, and Turkish President Erdogan, captioned that opponents want Netanyahu to lose and to not let them win. Mamdani has publicly clashed with Netanyahu over Gaza, including threats to arrest him in New York under an ICC warrant (though authorities have since questioned the arrest power of the NYPD); Mamdani has not commented, and Netanyahu has previously used his opposition in campaign messaging.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei appointed six veteran security and intelligence figures to senior posts, including Mohsen Rezaie as national security chief and Hossein Taeb returning to head the Basij. Analysts say the reshuffle marks a shift from a cautious deterrence approach to a more aggressive, security-dominated leadership that prioritizes external confrontation with the US and tighter internal control through intelligence networks.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei appointed six top military commanders, formalizing a wartime leadership structure: Ali Abdollahi becomes chief of staff (replacing the late Abdolrahim Mousavi), Kioumars Heydari as his deputy; Ahmad Vahidi as IRGC commander-in-chief with Mostafa Izadi as deputy; Rear Admiral Ali Azmaei as IRGC Navy commander; Hossein Taeb as Basij commander. The decrees settle several key vacancies created by US-Israeli strikes but leave major IRGC intelligence posts and two cabinet-level slots without permanent chiefs, underscoring persistent gaps in Iran's security leadership amid ongoing conflict.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei named Mohsen Rezaee, a veteran IRGC commander, as SNSC secretary and his representative, part of a broader wartime reshuffle that also elevates Ali Abdollahi to chief of staff, Ali Ozmaei to head the IRGC Navy, and Ahmad Vahidi to IRGC commander-in-chief, signaling a tightening of internal security and policy coordination as Tehran confronts the US-Israel front.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued decrees appointing six senior officials to lead the armed forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after the predecessors were killed in Israeli-US strikes. Ali Abdollahi was named chief of staff with Kioumars Heydari as his deputy; Ahmad Vahidi became IRGC commander with Mostafa Izadi as deputy; Ali Ozmaei was installed as IRGC Navy head and Hossein Taeb as Basij commander. Vahidi and Ozmaei had been acting heads. The moves were followed by appointments of Mohsen Rezaee to represent Iran on the Supreme National Security Council and Mohammed Bagher Zolghadr as a political advisor, signaling a deeper IRGC role in politics.
Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian reportedly sat in the back of a dark car for a secret, reportedly brief meeting with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, yet Pezeshkian cannot confirm it was the leader, hearing only a voice in the dark. The encounter reportedly happened after Pezeshkian pressed for a meeting, and he’s since asked for a face-to-face at the leader’s residence. IRGC influence has grown amid widespread mystery around Khamenei’s public absence since taking power.
Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian denied repeatedly threatening to resign during negotiations with the US over the Strait of Hormuz, amid internal hardline opposition and unverified resignation claims by a relative of the supreme leader; Khamenei's office dismissed the allegations as false, highlighting Tehran's divisions over pursuing a deal with Washington as regional players push for a temporary arrangement and Oman plays a key role.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei reportedly told President Masoud Pezeshkian he would accept his resignation if he resigns again, a claim from a relative, while Pezeshkian denies plans to quit and vows to stand firm. The episode points to underlying factional tensions and potential leadership reshuffles within the regime, including possible changes at the IRGC/SNSC level, as Tehran negotiates over the Strait of Hormuz and related MoU commitments.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says authorities rushed to announce Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death and call supporters into the streets after overseas Persian-language media, notably Iran International, leaked the news, fearing street unrest could take a different turn. The plan reportedly shifted from a dawn announcement to mobilizing people at suhoor, treating the street as a strategic front alongside the military, diplomacy and government services to maintain control.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recalls being pulled from rubble after the US-Israeli strike that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, confirms the attackers had precise intelligence on Iran’s leadership, notes Mojtaba Khamenei has been named the new leader and signals no change in policy, describes Iran’s Code 110 plan to close Hormuz, and says Tehran was prepared to retaliate regionally while continuing diplomacy and that its missile readiness has improved since earlier bombing.