File Photo: Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. Photo courtesy of Iranian press news agency.
The New York citing senior Iranian officials and members of the Revolutionary Guards, said Ayatollah Khamenei has instructed the country's top national security official, Ali Larijani, and a close circle of political and military associates to ensure the survival of the Islamic Republic in the event of American or Israeli aggression, or even assassination attempts targeting senior leadership, including the Supreme Leader himself.
Larijani, 67, a veteran politician, former Revolutionary Guards commander, and current head of the Supreme National Security Council, has effectively taken on expanded authority in recent months, particularly since widespread protests earlier this year, the report said.
Officials added that Khamenei has issued a series of contingency directives, naming four layers of succession for military and governmental posts he personally appoints. Senior leaders have been instructed to designate up to four potential replacements, while a trusted inner circle has been empowered to make critical decisions should communications with the Supreme Leader be severed or if he is killed.
On the military front, Iran’s army commander, Major General Amir Hatami, said the country was “not an easy target,” warning that any adversary who believed Iran was in a position of weakness would be mistaken.
Iran has repeatedly insisted it does not seek war but is fully prepared for it.
The United States and Iran are scheduled to resume talks in Geneva on Thursday amid a significant U.S. military buildup in the region and repeated American threats to use force against the Islamic Republic.
Although no final decision has been made, advisers said that Trump has been leaning toward launching a strike in the coming days to signal to Tehran that it must agree to dismantle its nuclear program. Potential targets under discussion include the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, nuclear facilities, and elements of Iran’s ballistic missile program, according to The New York Times.
In response, Iranian officials warned on Monday that any US strike would constitute an act of aggression, triggering retaliation.
“With respect to your first question concerning the limited strike, I think there is no limited strike,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said at a briefing in Tehran.
“An act of aggression would be regarded as an act of aggression. Period. And any state would react to an act of aggression as part of its inherent right of self-defense — ferociously. So that’s what we would do.”
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