Iran’s consul general has dismissed reports that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding in a bunker, saying security measures are routine as Tehran faces heightened tensions, protests and speculation over leadership amid pressure from Western nations
Amid rising geopolitical tensions and swirling speculation about Iran’s leadership, the country’s Consul General to India has pushed back against claims that
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei is holed up in a bunker. Saeid Reza Mosayeb Motlagh, Iran’s top diplomat in India, told reporters that while the Supreme Leader is being provided with security, he is “not hiding in a bunker or a shelter.”
The comments come at a time when
Tehran faces intense pressure from sanctions, internal protests and an increasingly assertive United States, all leading to rumours about Khamenei’s whereabouts. Some foreign outlets have claimed Khamenei retreated to an underground location amid fears of external attacks, particularly from Washington and its allies.
But Motlagh was categorical in his remarks, telling NDTV that much of the talk about a bunker hideout was exaggerated. “We are not afraid of any foreign powers. Some people are spreading rumours,” he said, defending the Supreme Leader’s position and Iran’s resilience.
Foreign intelligence blamed for unrest
Motlagh also used the interview to address broader unrest in Iran, asserting that foreign intelligence agencies had played a role in stoking demonstrations there. “Security forces showed flexibility and self-control towards the demonstrators until a turning point date… when terrorist elements received commands from their masters and bosses who were outside Iran,” he said, attributing sabotage and violence to external interference.
He claimed that the unrest led to 3,117 deaths, including both civilians and security forces, a figure that differs significantly from other estimates and international accounts of the protests.
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Turning to the broader security environment, Motlagh said that Iran was prepared to confront any aggression. He pointed to past conflicts, including the 12-day war with Israel last year, as proof of Tehran’s capabilities. “Our country has shown that it has the power to fend off any kind of aggression… if any forces want to act offensively against Iran, we are completely prepared to defend ourselves,” he said.
The consul general also touched on Iran’s relations with India, noting that sanctions have strained ties but insisting that both countries were finding ways to maintain cooperation despite economic pressures. He reassured the Indian public that no foreign nationals in Iran had been harmed amid the unrest.
Motlagh additionally defended Iran’s recent internet blackout, saying it was necessary to counter what Tehran described as external influences using online platforms to fuel dissent. He said connectivity was improving, but stressed that the move was essential to preserve stability.
On allegations that Khamenei was avoiding public appearances, the diplomat insisted the Supreme Leader continues to hold meetings via virtual means and that rumours about his disappearance were unfounded. “It is natural that His Eminence must have security personnel protecting him… However, one should not think that he is hidden in a bunker or a shelter,” he asserted.
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