Khamenei Prepares for Assassination: Loyalist Larijani Appointed Key Role Amid Tensions

• Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly instructed associates on responses to potential US/Israeli strikes, including succession plans.
• The New York Times report cites Iranian officials, Revolutionary Guards, and former diplomats on leadership continuity efforts.
• Khamenei elevated longtime loyalist Ali Larijani to a central governing role amid protests and US military threats.
• Larijani oversees protest crackdowns, nuclear diplomacy, regional coordination, and wartime planning.
• Khamenei named multiple successors and delegated authority to an inner circle for assassination or communication loss scenarios.