Exclusive: Iran’s Khamenei Warned Nasrallah of Israeli Plot to Kill Him, Sources Say

By Samia Nakhoul and Laila Bassam

DUBAI/BEIRUT (Reuters) – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah to leave Lebanon shortly before Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli strike. Khamenei is now increasingly concerned about Israeli infiltration within high-ranking government positions in Tehran, according to three Iranian sources.

Following the Israeli attack on Hezbollah’s weapons systems on September 17, Khamenei sent an envoy to warn Nasrallah, referencing intelligence suggesting that Israel had agents within Hezbollah and intended to assassinate him. The envoy was a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander, Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan, who was present with Nasrallah in his bunker at the time of the attack and was also killed.

Since the assault, Khamenei has remained in a secure location within Iran. He ordered a volley of approximately 200 missiles to be fired at Israel in retaliation for the deaths of Nasrallah and Nilforoushan, according to a senior Iranian official. The Revolutionary Guards confirmed this response in a statement, which also mentioned the July killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and noted Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, although Israel has not claimed responsibility for Haniyeh’s death.

On the same day, Israel commenced what it referred to as a "limited" ground incursion into southern Lebanon against Hezbollah.

Iran’s foreign ministry and the Israeli Prime Minister’s office did not respond to requests for comments.

The assassination of Nasrallah followed two weeks of targeted Israeli strikes that have severely weakened Hezbollah, destroying weapons sites and taking out many senior leaders.

Fears regarding the safety of Khamenei and a loss of trust within both Hezbollah and Iran’s ruling establishment have been highlighted in interviews with sources, suggesting that the current situation could hinder the functioning of Iran’s anti-Israel alliance. Hezbollah, established with Iranian support in the 1980s, has been the most significant component of this alliance.

The disarray within Hezbollah is complicating the process of selecting a new leader, with concerns that infiltration could jeopardize any successor, according to four Lebanese sources. One Hezbollah expert noted the immense blow that Nasrallah’s assassination dealt to Iran’s influence in the region.

Officials in Iran are conducting thorough investigations to uncover potential infiltrators within their own ranks, particularly among the Revolutionary Guards and senior security personnel who travel abroad or have relatives living outside Iran. Concerns were raised when a guard began inquiring about Nasrallah’s location, leading to the arrest of several suspects.

The assassination has led to heightened mistrust between Tehran and Hezbollah, as well as within the ranks of Hezbollah itself. According to one official, the trust that once unified them has vanished.

Worries about possible Israeli infiltrations had already been escalating earlier, following the killing of a Hezbollah commander in July during an Israeli airstrike, which served to intensify fears of further Israeli operations.

Khamenei’s warning for Nasrallah to move to Iran came after deadly attacks on Hezbollah’s communication devices on September 17 and 18. While those bombings have widely been attributed to Israeli actions, the country has not formally taken responsibility.

Despite Tehran’s concerns, Nasrallah was reportedly confident in his security and expressed a firm intent to remain in Lebanon. Khamenei attempted to communicate this urgency again through Nilforoushan last week, but Nasrallah remained resolute.

In the aftermath of the pager attacks, Hezbollah initiated a significant investigation to root out potential Israeli spies, interrogating hundreds of members. This inquiry was led by Sheikh Nabil Kaouk, who was subsequently killed during an Israeli raid.

Despite the chaos, the assassination of Nasrallah has created a dilemma for Hezbollah regarding how to honor their leader posthumously. In light of the ongoing threats, the group has refrained from holding a large-scale funeral.

Hezbollah may consider temporarily burying Nasrallah, planning an official ceremony later when conditions allow, as the leadership continues to grapple with the loss and the implications it has on their future strategies.

The complex situation has made Hezbollah cautious about appointing a successor. The prospect of a new leader potentially facing immediate assassination remains a concern, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the group’s command structure at this critical juncture.