Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the rest of the Iranian leadership appear to be preparing for the worst, while Israeli airstrikes continue to strike. The Supreme Leader's staff is said to be"in talks with the Russian authorities for an evacuation with their families, if necessary." This was reported by the London-based Iran International website, which is close to dissident Iranian groups and is often reported by the Israeli media.

The unverifiable indiscretion refers in particular to a possible safe conduct for Ali Asghar Hejazi, Khamenei's deputy cabinet chief, to whom a high-ranking Russian official would have provided instructions for a safe escape. According to the broadcaster, several exponents of the Islamic Republic would have received advice to leave Iran and head towards the Federation. Some would be finalizing their plans.

Again Iran International, citing an anonymous diplomatic source, added that Israel could have eliminated Khamenei on the first night of the war, but the government in Tel Aviv decided to leave him alive to give the Supreme Leader one last chance to order the complete dismantling of the uranium enrichment program.

According to two sources inside Iran, a few hours after the start of the Israeli attacks on Tehran, Khamenei was transferred to an underground bunker in Lavizan, northeast of the capital, along with all the members of his family, including his son Mojtaba. Last Saturday, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video message in English, addressing the American President, Donald Trump, had assured that the Iranian leaders were"packing their bags" because of the air raids.