IRAN’S supreme leader is making moves to flee to Moscow as unrest and violence continues to grow across the rogue nation.
The aging tyrant has all but packed his bags to seek shelter with Putin, according to intelligent sources.
It comes as struggling Iranians have been offered a measly £5 a month to quell their dissent.
While the Islamic republic prepares to hand out one of its most ambition economic relief programs in its history, supreme leader Ali Khamenei apparently has a getaway plan.
Beni Sabti, who served for decades in Israeli intelligence after fleeing the regime eight years after the Islamic revolution, told The Times the 86-year-old Ayatollah had plans in place to flee Iran.
Apparently he and 20 of his closest aides and family would escape to Moscow if the army and security forces desert, defect or fail to follow orders to put an end to protests.
TEHRAN BLOODSHED
At least 12 dead in Iran after forces opened fire during deadly clashes
STREETS OF RAGE
Iran ‘opens fire on protesters’ as mad regime threatens US bases
At least 12 people have lost their lives during the week-long protests, which saw Iranians take to the streets to oppose soaring inflation brought on by international sanctions and depleted oil sales.
It’s understood three children are among the dead, while 40 minors have been arrested.
The panicked regime has now offered stingy vouchers of 10 million rial (£5.50) to its 80 million citizens in an effort to dampen the unrest.
Protests began with a shopkeepers strike in Tehran on December 28 after annual inflation hit 42.2 per cent, with food prices jumping 72 per cent.
The demonstrations then morphed into widespread anti-regime unrest across more than 20 cities.
Crowds chanted slogans targeting Khamenei, included: “this year is a year of blood, Seyyed Ali will be overthrown,” “death to the dictator,” and “death to the oppressor.”
Protesters reportedly attacked government offices, set police vehicles ablaze, and tore down the Iranian flag from official buildings.
Footage recorded on the streets of the capital show armed security forces clashing with protestors.
Gunshots can heard as demonstrators run for their lives through the streets of downtown Tehran.
The violent scenes follow a firm warning from Donald Trump that the US is “locked and loaded,” ready to intervene if unrest continues.
In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump issued a stark warning to Tehran: “If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protestors, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”
The White House has not confirmed what action Washington might take, leaving the threat open to interpretation.
Iran responded with equal fire. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament, warned that all US military personnel and bases in the region would be considered “legitimate targets” if Trump acted on his threat.
While top Iranian official Ali Larijani warned that US interference would lead to the entire destabilisation of the Middle East.
Iran has since formally complained to the United Nations over Donald Trump’s threats to back protesters, warning it will respond with force if the US attacks.
Khamenai’s getaway plan is based on the escape of fellow tyrant leader Bashar al-Assad of Syria, who fled to the Kremlin in December 2024 after opposition forces stormed Damascus.
An exit route has been plotted for Ayatollah, as assets, properties and cash have been gathered to aid the escape, should a revolution take place, the source said.
Calls for a regime change have grown as last week’s demonstrators chanted: “Death to the dictator,” and “death to the oppressor.”
According to HRAI, 990 people have been arrested.
These demonstrations are the most significant in Iran since the movement in response to the death in custody of Mahsa Amini.
Publicly, officials have struck a conciliatory tone when it comes to protesters’ economic demands, while vowing to take a hard line against any chaos and destabilisation.
While Khamenei did make a rare offer to speak to protesters, he has only addressed them as “rioters”.