The second supreme leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, who has been ruling the country since 1989, on Wednesday morning tweeted: “In the name of Nami Haydar, the battle begins. Ali returns to Haydar with his Zulfiqar.”
به نام نامی #حیدر، نبرد آغاز میگردد
علی با ذوالفقار خود، به #خیبر باز میگردد#الله_اکبر pic.twitter.com/yGYrXUDGoK— KHAMENEI.IR | فارسی ???????? (@Khamenei_fa) June 17, 2025
In Islam, the name Haydar originates from the Arabic word for “lion” and is closely associated with Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. Ali earned the nickname Haydar for his courage and formidable strength, especially during the Battle of Khaybar, where he gained renown as a fearless warrior likened to a lion.
The Battle of Khaybar, a key confrontation in early Islamic history, took place in 628 CE between Muslim forces led by the Prophet Muhammad and the Jewish tribes of the Khaybar oasis, located northwest of Medina.
As Muhammad’s forces approached, expected reinforcements from allied Arabian tribes failed to materialize, leaving Khaybar’s defenders vulnerable behind inadequate fortifications. Following a short but intense conflict, the oasis fell to the Muslims. During the battle, Ali ibn Abi Talib famously killed the Jewish commander, Marhab ibn al-Harith, further cementing his legendary status in Islamic tradition.
Zulfiqar is the legendary sword of Ali ibn Abi Talib. It is often depicted with a double blade or a split tip. The sword is not just a weapon; it’s a powerful symbol of courage, strength, and divine support in Islamic tradition.
Iranians are terrified that Ali Khamenei, 86, tormented by illness and facing the collapse of everything he has built over the past five decades, is imagining himself as the reincarnation of Ali ibn Abi Talib, fighting the final battle against the Jews.
THE OLD MAN IS LONELY AND DEPRESSED
“Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cuts an increasingly lonely figure,” noted Reuters’ Parisa Hafezi and Angus Mcdowall late Tuesday night.
Iran’s Supreme Leader has seen several of his top military and security advisers eliminated in Israeli airstrikes, creating significant gaps in his inner circle and heightening the risk of strategic missteps. According to a source who regularly participates in high-level meetings with Khamenei, the potential for miscalculation—particularly on matters of national defense and internal stability—is now “extremely dangerous.”
Among the senior advisers reportedly eliminated by Israeli strikes were key figures in Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s inner circle: Revolutionary Guards Commander Hossein Salami, Aerospace Force Chief Amir Ali Hajizadeh—who oversaw Iran’s ballistic missile program—and intelligence chief Mohammad Hazmi.
These officials belonged to a tight-knit group of 15 to 20 advisers who routinely gathered in Khamenei’s office to weigh in on critical national decisions. Their defining traits were absolute loyalty to the Supreme Leader and steadfast commitment to the ideology of the Islamic Republic.
As Supreme Leader, Khamenei holds ultimate authority over Iran’s armed forces, including the power to declare war and appoint or dismiss top officials, from military commanders to judges.
However, in light of Israel’s sustained and damaging campaign against his strategic assets, Khamenei has reportedly ceded significant powers to the Revolutionary Guards’ Supreme Council. According to Iran International, he has retreated with his family to underground bunkers, while the Revolutionary Guards now assume full control over the direction of the war from Iran’s side.
