According to journalists at The New York Times, Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei has ordered the preparation of a detailed contingency plan in case of a US strike that would either kill him or sever his ability to communicate with the country’s leadership.

The report says that in the event of his elimination, part of Khamenei’s powers would be transferred to a small circle of trusted figures. In parallel, Iranian authorities are to build a multi-tiered line of succession for both military and civilian governance. Key officials have been instructed to designate four deputies each, who would be expected to take over decision-making in a crisis.

The newspaper notes that Khamenei has entrusted the coordination of crucial issues to Ali Larijani, the former parliament speaker and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. According to the publication, Larijani’s influence has grown noticeably in recent months.

The authors also report that Tehran continues to view the risk of US strikes as very high. In response, the authorities have placed the armed forces on heightened alert and conducted a series of military exercises.

Earlier, Axios, citing its own sources, reported that the United States is considering several courses of action against Iran. One of the options, according to that account, involves the elimination of Ali Khamenei and his son Modjtaba. Journalists say this plan was presented to US President Donald Trump a few weeks ago.