In a significant escalation of tensions, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has entrusted national security chief Ali Larijani with the governance of the country in the event of U.S. attacks or his assassination. Recent reports indicate that Khamenei has implemented a comprehensive succession plan, designating multiple layers of successors among military and government officials to ensure the survival of the state amid escalating threats from the U.S. This comes as the U.S. has evacuated hundreds of troops from key bases in Qatar and Bahrain, including Al Udeid Air Base, in a precautionary move amid fears of a military confrontation with Tehran. The withdrawal is interpreted as part of contingency planning rather than a signal of imminent conflict, while U.S. forces remain deployed across a network of bases in the region.