Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reportedly goes into hiding in bunker amid Israeli airstrikes

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and his family are reportedly sheltering in an underground bunker in Lavizan, northeastern Tehran, following a series of Israeli airstrikes on key Iranian cities, including Tehran and, for the first time, Mashhad.

According to Iran International, sources confirm that Khamenei’s sons, including Mojtaba, Masoud, and Mostafa, are with him in the Lavizan facility. The same bunker was previously used during earlier Israeli operations known as “True Promise 1” and “True Promise 2,” although at that time only Mojtaba was present.

A diplomatic insider told Iran International that Israel could have directly targeted Khamenei during the opening night of its latest offensive, dubbed Rising Lion, but refrained. Instead, the Israeli government reportedly chose to give Iran’s leadership a final opportunity to dismantle its uranium enrichment program.

The attack on Mashhad—located over 2,300 kilometers from Israel—was interpreted as a deliberate signal to Khamenei that no place in Iran is beyond reach.

According to Iran International’s sources, all the members of Khamenei’s family including his son Mojtaba are with him in Lavizan. While, the Supreme Leader and his family had sought refuge in the same bunker, even during the previous operations against Israel, True Promise 1 and True Promise 2, as per the report. But during that time, only Mojtaba was by his side, and two of his sons, Masoud and Mostafa, were not with him in the bunker, reported Iran International.

Despite receiving a two-month ultimatum from U.S. President Donald Trump to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Khamenei has so far resisted, ignoring both American and Israeli warnings. With Israeli airstrikes now underway, analysts suggest this may be a final chance for the Supreme Leader to reconsider Iran’s nuclear trajectory in light of escalating military pressure.