Tehran, January 5, 2026 – Unverified intelligence reports have surfaced alleging that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has prepared a secret contingency plan to flee to Moscow with a small circle of aides and family members should ongoing nationwide protests overwhelm the regime's security forces. The claims, first reported by British newspaper The Times and widely circulated in international media, suggest the 86-year-old leader fears potential defections or failures by the military and Revolutionary Guards to contain the unrest.
According to the reports, the "Plan B" would involve Khamenei, his son Mojtaba—widely seen as a potential successor—and up to 20 close associates, including preparations for transferring assets abroad. The alleged destination of Russia draws parallels to the 2024 flight of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who sought refuge in Moscow after opposition forces overtook Damascus. Former Israeli intelligence officer Beni Sabti, cited in multiple accounts, stated that Moscow is Khamenei's only viable option, noting his admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and perceived cultural similarities.
These allegations remain unsubstantiated by official Iranian sources, and the regime has not commented directly on the reports. Khamenei, who has maintained a low public profile amid the crisis, addressed the protests on January 3, acknowledging economic grievances as legitimate while insisting that "rioters" must be "put in their place" and vowing Iran "will not yield to the enemy."
The protests, now in their second week, erupted on December 28, 2025, initially as strikes by merchants in Tehran's Grand Bazaar over the collapse of the Iranian rial, which hit record lows against the U.S. dollar. Inflation has soared above 40%, with food prices rising up to 72% year-on-year, exacerbating widespread hardship under international sanctions. Demonstrations have spread to more than 78 cities across 26 provinces, evolving into broader anti-regime chants such as "Death to the dictator" and calls for fundamental political change.
Human rights groups report at least 16-20 deaths, including children, and nearly 1,000 arrests, with clashes intensifying in western and central provinces. Security forces have been accused of using live ammunition, though authorities describe some incidents as attacks on police stations. Footage circulating online shows protesters torching vehicles, storming government buildings, and facing tear gas and gunfire.
In a bid to ease tensions, the government announced an "economic relief" initiative on January 5, distributing vouchers equivalent to approximately £5-£6 ($5-6) monthly to much of the population over four months—a move critics dismiss as insufficient amid the crisis.
International reactions have heightened tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media that America is "locked and loaded" and ready to "rescue" protesters if Iranian forces violently suppress them, prompting sharp rebukes from Tehran. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that U.S. bases in the region would become "legitimate targets" in case of intervention, while senior officials accused Washington and Israel of orchestrating the unrest. Iran has lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations over Trump's statements.
Analysts describe the protests as the most serious challenge to the Islamic Republic since the 2022-2023 demonstrations following Mahsa Amini's death in custody. While the government has adopted a relatively conciliatory tone—President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledging "legitimate demands" and promising dialogue—the dual approach of concessions and crackdowns underscores the regime's vulnerability amid economic collapse, sanctions, and regional setbacks.
The reported escape plan, if accurate, would signal deep paranoia within the leadership, shaped by recent events including the brief 2025 war with Israel and the fall of allied regimes. Khamenei controls vast assets through semi-state foundations, estimated in past investigations at $95 billion, potentially facilitating any exodus.
As protests continue sporadically despite partial internet restrictions and arrests of alleged organizers, the situation remains fluid. Experts warn that sustained unrest could fracture security forces' loyalty, though the regime has historically suppressed similar movements through force.
The crisis highlights Iran's entrenched challenges: sanctions-battered economy, public disillusionment, and external pressures. Whether the protests subside under repression and minor relief measures or escalate into a broader threat remains uncertain, but they have already exposed profound strains on the 47-year-old Islamic Republic.
