Despite the magnitude of the mobilizations, Khamenei has publicly downplayed the protests and has promised to suppress them harshly, stating that he will put the demonstrators "in their place." International observers and human rights organizations have warned that this rhetoric foreshadows a possible escalation of repression.
The background of the crisis is a combination of structural factors. Iran is facing the worst drought in decades, with more than 10 million inhabitants of Tehran suffering frequent interruptions in water supply.
At the same time, the country is going through a severe economic crisis marked by the fall of the national currency: one U.S. dollar currently equals more than 42,000 rials, which has drastically reduced the population's purchasing power.
Masivas protestas han inundado las calles de 22 provincias iraníes
On the international stage, the close relationship between Iran and Russia reinforces the plausibility of the alleged escape plan. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, both countries have strengthened their military and strategic cooperation.
Tehran has supplied weapons to Moscow and has collaborated in the development of infrastructure for drone production. At the beginning of 2025, Iran and Russia signed a 20-year strategic partnership treaty, which provides for greater cooperation in defense and a common stance against Western sanctions, although Moscow clarified that the agreement doesn't include an obligation of mutual defense.
Several sources claim that Khamenei admires Russian presidentVladimir Putin and considers Russia a safe destination in the event that he is forced to relinquish power. On the other hand, this dependence on a foreign ally underscores the fragility of the ayatollah's leadership and his growing disconnection from an impoverished and increasingly defiant Iranian society.
International tension has also intensified. U.S. president Donald Trump warned that the United States could intervene if the Iranian regime fires on peaceful demonstrators. Tehran replied by declaring that U.S. forces would be treated as "legitimate targets," raising the risk of a regional escalation.
Khamenei ha expresado su admiración por Putin en múltiples ocasiones
The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would have a plan ready to flee to Moscow if the Islamic regime loses control in the face of the growing wave of protests shaking the country, according to an intelligence report.
The document indicates that the dictator would leave Tehran along with his family and his closest circle if the security forces fail to contain the demonstrations or decide to abandon their loyalty to the regime.
According to the report, Khamenei, 86 years old, would travel by plane accompanied by approximately 20 advisers, immediate family members, and his son Mojtaba, who has been considered for years his political heir.
The existence of this escape plan suggests that the Iranian regime is seriously contemplating a scenario of internal collapse, despite official messages that insist on the stability of the system.
Khamenei huiría junto a su familia y asesores cercanos
The plan has parallels with the escape of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, an ally of both Tehran and Moscow, who fled to Russia in December 2024 when opposition forces took Damascus.
According to the cited source, Khamenei's inner circle has worked on the logistical preparation of a similar exit, including the accumulation of assets, properties abroad, and large sums of cash to facilitate a rapid evacuation.
The information emerges amid massive protests that have already left more than 20 people dead and have spread to 22 of the country's 31 provinces. In numerous cities, demonstrators have chanted slogans such as "Death to Khamenei," a direct challenge to the supreme leader that reflects an unusual level of social discontent in the recent history of the Islamic Republic.
Esta escapada se asemeja al plan efectuado por el sirio Bashar al-Assad
