Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has instructed his senior associates on the specific actions they must take if he is killed in potential US or Israeli strikes.
According to a report by The Times of Israel on February 22, 2026, he has established detailed contingency plans that feature layered succession orders and emergency chains of command to ensure continuity of governance during a crisis.
At the peak of nationwide protests last month, which coincided with escalating US threats of military action, Khamenei elevated longtime loyalist Ali Larijani to a central governing role.
Larijani, a former Revolutionary Guards commander and experienced politician, now effectively leads state affairs in critical areas.
According to senior Iranian officials, members of the Revolutionary Guards, and former diplomats, Larijani has taken charge of overseeing the crackdown on protests, directing sensitive nuclear diplomacy with Washington, and coordinating closely with key allies such as Russia, Qatar, and Oman.
He also leads wartime planning efforts as Iran prepares for the possibility of US strikes.
Khamenei has named multiple layers of successors for essential military and political positions and has delegated significant decision-making authority to a small, trusted inner circle in case communications are disrupted or he is assassinated.
Although Larijani is not viewed as a probable successor to the supreme leader position because he lacks the status of a senior Shiite cleric, he remains one of Khamenei’s most reliable crisis managers.
Iran has responded to the heightened tensions by placing its armed forces on high alert, positioning missile systems near Iraq and along the Persian Gulf, and carrying out extensive military drills to ready itself for potential conflict…..See More
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