Iran’s Supreme Leader Planning to Flee as Country Could be on “Verge of Collapsing”, Claims Trump

The supreme leader of Iran has made plans to flee and his country could be on the “verge of collapsing” as anti-regime protests escalate, Donald Trump has claimed. The Telegraph has more.

The US President said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was “looking to go someplace” when asked about reports he could escape to Russia.

Protesters chanted “death to Khamenei” and “freedom, freedom” in Tehran, the capital, on Thursday night and set buildings on fire elsewhere in the largest day of unrest since the demonstrations began in December.

The regime plunged the country into an internet blackout overnight, with unverified videos surfacing on Friday morning of bodies in the streets.

Discussions have taken place inside Iran over a Nicolás Maduro-style arrangement, which would result in Khamenei leaving Iran in exchange for keeping the Iranian regime in place, the Economist reported.

Before Maduro was captured in a US military operation last week, talks between Washington and Caracas touched on how he could be allowed to leave Venezuela safely, which would allow the regime’s remaining figures to remain in power. The proposal, which never got off the ground, was labelled ‘Madurismo without Maduro’.

Saeed Laylaz, an economist favoured by the regime, urged Khamenei to step aside.

Iranian officials told the New York Times that the regime has been “thrust into survival mode”, and reports emerged last weekend that a “Plan B” was being drawn up for the ayatollah to escape to Russia in the event of protests growing out of control.

Trump said on Thursday night that the country could be on the “verge of collapsing”.

He promised again to step in to protect protesters who were targeted by the regime. The US President told Fox News: “We’re ready to do it. If they do that, we’re going to hit them hard… the enthusiasm to overturn that regime is incredible.”

Fox News asked Trump whether the rumours were true that Khamenei had a “Plan B” to flee to Russia. The US President replied: “Or someplace, yeah. He’s looking to go someplace.”

The supreme leader struck a defiant tone on Friday, insisting that the Islamic Republic would “not back down” against the “domestic terrorists” taking part in protests around the country.

Speaking publicly for the first time since January 3rd, Khamenei warned Trump to “focus on the problems in his country” and said the “arrogant” US leader would be “overthrown”.

Worth reading in full.