Exclusive: Iran’s Supreme Leader Relocated to Secure Location, Sources Report

DUBAI (Reuters) – Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been moved to a secure location within Iran due to heightened security concerns, sources reported, following Israel’s recent assassination of the head of Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese group, in a strike on Beirut.

This precaution illustrates the growing anxiety among Iranian authorities as Israel has intensified its attacks on Hezbollah, which remains Iran’s most formidable ally in the region. Reports indicated that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, tasked with upholding the ideology of the Islamic Republic, has ordered its members to refrain from using communication devices after incidents involving the detonation of pagers and walkie-talkies linked to Hezbollah.

Lebanese sources have accused Israel of being responsible for these attacks on communication equipment, though Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement.

According to two regional officials briefed by Tehran, Khamenei’s relocation was part of a broader response as Iran coordinates with Hezbollah and other allied proxy groups to determine their next actions following the killing of Nasrallah. The officials chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the information.

In addition to Nasrallah, reports indicate that the recent strikes in Beirut also resulted in the death of Abbas Nilforoushan, a deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards. Other commanders have lost their lives since hostilities reignited with the Gaza War last year, which has seen a rise in regional violence.

Khamenei released a statement on Saturday following the announcement of Nasrallah’s death, asserting, "The fate of this region will be determined by the forces of resistance, with Hezbollah at the forefront." He also declared five days of mourning for Nasrallah and emphasized that "the blood of the martyr shall not go unavenged."

The assassination of Nasrallah represents a significant setback for Iran, as he was a key ally instrumental in establishing Hezbollah as a cornerstone of Tehran’s influence in the Arab world. Iran’s network of regional allies, referred to as the ‘Axis of Resistance,’ encompasses groups from Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza to Iranian-supported militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen.

Hamas has been engaged in conflict with Israel for nearly a year, starting with a major incursion on October 7. The Houthis have also been active, launching missiles at Israel and targeting maritime vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

Throughout the Gaza War, Hezbollah has engaged in cross-border fire and has expressed a commitment to continue its operations until a ceasefire is established in Gaza.

In response to the attacks on communication devices, an Iranian security official indicated that the Revolutionary Guards are conducting a comprehensive inspection of all communications equipment. Many of these devices are said to be either homemade or imported from China and Russia. The official voiced concerns over potential infiltration by Israeli agents and mentioned that investigations targeting mid- and high-ranking members of the Revolutionary Guards are underway.

In a related statement, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States of complicity in Nasrallah’s killing, blaming its provision of weapons to Israel. "The Americans cannot deny their complicity with the Zionists," he said in remarks reported by state media.