Explosions Rock Tehran's Lavizan District Amid Rising Concerns Over Supreme Leader Khamenei’s Safety

Israel struck the area where Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is reportedly in hiding

Massive explosions shook the Lavizan district of Tehran late Thursday, sparking escalating concerns over the safety of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is reportedly being sheltered in the area following intensified Israeli airstrikes.

Eyewitness footage captured scenes of the blast, lighting up the Tehran skyline with anti-aircraft fire as Iranian defenses attempted to intercept Israeli jets. The Lavizan area is known for housing high-ranking Iranian officials and military assets. Sources close to the matter report that Khamenei was relocated to a secure facility in the district on Friday, shortly after a wave of Israeli strikes targeted Tehran.

There have been no official confirmations regarding injuries to the Supreme Leader, and Iranian authorities have yet to comment on his status. However, the strikes come after Iran launched missiles that struck a hospital in Beersheba, injuring over 200 civilians, and damaged residential complexes near Tel Aviv, leaving at least 40 wounded.

In response, Israel escalated its campaign, targeting Tehran with precision strikes. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz intensified rhetoric against Iran’s leadership, reiterating earlier threats. Labeling Khamenei as “the modern Hitler,” Katz declared, “Without question, this man should not continue to exist. A dictator who has openly called for the destruction of the State of Israel cannot be allowed to pursue or achieve that goal.”

Explosions were seen in the Lavizan area

Israel also targeted Iran’s Arak heavy water nuclear reactor, a key component of its nuclear infrastructure. Iranian state media claimed the facility had been evacuated prior to the strike and assured the public that there was "no radiation danger whatsoever."

As regional tensions reach a boiling point, Washington has signaled cautious deliberation. The White House announced that former U.S. President Donald Trump—who remains a key decision-maker in Republican foreign policy—will decide within two weeks whether the U.S. will join Israel’s expanding military campaign against Iran’s nuclear and defense programs.

“Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” said Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, quoting the former president.

The situation remains fluid, with global powers closely monitoring developments. Analysts warn that the strike on Lavizan, and Israel’s direct targeting of nuclear assets and leadership compounds, marks a dangerous new phase in the Iran-Israel conflict.