Khamenei ‘vanishes underground’ as leak ties Rouhani, Zarif to succession plot

Iran’s already murky power struggle has taken a darker turn with fresh claims that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been moved into a secret underground shelter, where senior officials are reportedly blindfolded before being driven to his location to ensure his hideout cannot be traced. This comes amid reports of a plot to oust Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during January’s unrest. The alleged scheme, first detailed by France’s Le Figaro, accused former president Hassan Rouhani and ex–foreign minister Javad Zarif of quietly trying to sideline Khamenei with the help of reformist clerics and IRGC-linked figures. Watch for more