Reports from an Iranian opposition media outlet indicate that Masoud Khamenei, the third son of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has assumed responsibility for managing his father’s daily affairs. He is also said to be acting as the main liaison between the supreme leader and key executive arms of the Iranian government.

According to Iran International, Ayatollah Khamenei has relocated to a heavily fortified underground bunker in Tehran, complete with interconnected tunnels, following warnings from top military and security officials about a heightened risk of a possible United States military strike. The move reflects growing concern within Iran’s leadership over escalating tensions with Washington.

The assessment that a US attack may be imminent gained traction after President Donald Trump disclosed on Friday that American naval vessels were heading toward waters near Iran. Trump stated that the United States had deployed “many ships” in the region, though he added that he hoped force would not be necessary.

Iranian officials have responded with strong warnings. A senior government figure reiterated that any assault on Iran would be interpreted as a declaration of total war against the country, a position Tehran has repeatedly emphasized in recent days. On Tuesday, Iran’s Students News Agency, citing the parliamentary national security commission, reported that any attack targeting the supreme leader would prompt an official call for jihad.

Earlier, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also warned that an attack on Ayatollah Khamenei would amount to a full-scale war against the Iranian people.

Speculation about a potential US strike had briefly subsided after President Trump suggested last week that Iran’s violent suppression of nationwide protests appeared to be slowing and that large-scale executions were unlikely. However, fresh reports of continued violence against demonstrators have since emerged, despite widespread internet shutdowns across the country.

In response, the US Treasury Department announced new sanctions on Friday, citing Iran’s ongoing crackdown on protesters. While the exact death toll from the unrest remains unclear, the US-based human rights organization HRANA reported early Saturday that at least 5,137 people have been killed during the period of upheaval.