As the conflict between Israel and Iran rages on, there has been much speculation over the life of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as forensic analysis of his recent address to the nation sheds more light on the likelihood that he is in hiding.
Iranian officials believe Khamenei’s life is in jeopardy after Israeli officials said he was not “off limits” as Tehran suffered heavy losses in the ongoing hostilities. After reports came in that Khamenei was hiding in an underground bunker, US President Donald Trump mentioned that his administration knew Khamenei’s exact location but “won’t take him out” for now.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that while the fall of Iran’s regime is not an official Israeli objective, it could ultimately be a consequence of the ongoing conflict. Khamenei’s latest official video released on June 18 provided hints that he was moved away from his official residence. Forensic analysis of the video revealed notable changes and a decline in production quality and setup, pointing to improvised arrangements rather than his typical studio-grade environment.
Is Khamenei In Hiding?
After Trump’s demand for an “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” of Iran, Khamenei issued a video message on his Telegram channel, saying that Iran will not surrender and further warned that any US strike will have serious irreparable consequences This marked his second public appearance since the attacks began on June 13.
According to a report by India Today, there were unusual technical deviations in the latest video compared to previous ones, suggesting that the Iranian Supreme Leader had been relocated or the video was shot in a different environment.
The video, showing only beige curtains, an Iranian flag, and a portrait of Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini – Khamenei’s predecessor – provided no definitive indication of his whereabouts. However, there were some subtle hints, such as , Khamenei using a lapel mic instead of the higher-quality stand microphones usually seen in his addresses.
The overall video quality also appeared to be lower. Previous videos from his office maintain high-resolution standards, but this one looks significantly compressed, indicating a less sophisticated setup.
A technical comparison revealed that as compared to his June 10 address, which under four minutes long and had a file size of 24 MB with a video bitrate of 892 kbps and audio at 95.4 kbps, his June 18 video was over nine minutes long, but only 18 MB in size. The video bitrate drops to 256 kbps, and the audio quality falls to just 2.4 kbps.
A higher bitrate translates into higher image quality.These indicators suggest the video was filmed using downgraded or makeshift equipment, pointing to a possible change in location. The lack of standard broadcast tools and the noticeable decline in technical quality reinforce the theory that Khamenei may now be operating from a more secure, potentially underground, facility, India Today reported.
This aligns with reports from London-based news channel Iran International, which claimed he had been moved to an underground bunker in Lavizan, northeastern Tehran. The audio of his latest address was also downsampled, likely to remove ambient noise that could reveal clues about his location. This marked a clear deviation from his typical broadcast quality, which involves professional-grade cameras and high-fidelity audio.
Israeli Officials On Khamenei
Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, declared that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “can no longer be allowed to exist”- directly accusing Ayatollah Khamenei of orchestrating the missile strike that hit a hospital near Tel Aviv, injuring dozens – and said Israel would do “everything they can to eliminate the Iranian leader.”
While Israel has a proven track record of carrying out high-profile assassinations, such as the killing of Iranian nuclear scientists, the targeted elimination of Khamenei presents a different set of challenges. ABC News quoted experts who argue that it’s not just about the physical act of an assassination, but also the broader political and military fallout.