Politis

Failed Internal Attempt to Remove Khamenei, Writes Le Figaro

Published February 23, 2026, 17:15
Failed Internal Attempt to Remove Khamenei, Writes Le Figaro

According to a report in Le Figaro, a failed internal attempt was made to remove Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, shortly before the bloody suppression of the protests in January. Former President Hassan Rouhani allegedly spearheaded the effort, seeking to remove Khamenei from managing the crisis. However, the move failed to materialize due to the reaction of Ali Larijani. Arrests of reformists followed, and the suppression of the protests was taken over by the Al-Quds Force and the Basij, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. The report points out that these developments are taking place in a fragile situation, with Tehran facing social pressure and negotiations over its nuclear program.