RFE RL / Kian Sharifi
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(RFE/RL) — Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s absence from public view during the Israel-Iran war could become a defining moment for his leadership and the Islamic republic’s future.
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was a constant presence — issuing daily statements and projecting resolve — Khamenei, Iran’s commander-in-chief, was largely unseen, releasing only two video messages during the conflict, one almost certainly filmed in a bunker.
As a third video message surfaced after the cease-fire, debate over the impact of his wartime conduct has sharpened among experts and the Iranian public.
Hiding for Survival
Khamenei’s disappearance was not simply a matter of leadership style; it was directly fueled by credible reports that he was at the top of Israel’s hit list.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly confirmed that Israel actively sought to assassinate the Iranian supreme leader during the conflict, but couldn’t as he “went very deep underground,” meaning “there was no operational opportunity.”
The threat was so acute, Khamenei reportedly suspended all electronic communication and relied only on trusted aides. The New York Times reported he even designated a line of succession in case he was killed.
Leadership Under Fire?
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