Iranian officials are said to be considering removing their supreme leader from power after the United States waded in to Israel's growing conflict with Iran on Sunday.
Two sources involved in talks told The Atlantic that officials are now contemplating deposing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but said it's just 'one idea' among many 'plots'.
'Everybody knows Khamenei's days are numbered,' one official told the American outlet. 'Even if he stays in office, he won't have actual power.'
Iranian officials had sought to displace the 86-year-old supreme leader even before the U.S. intervention due to his age and longstanding health concerns, the sources said.
Iran has vowed to inflict 'serious' damage in retaliation to the American strikes on nuclear facilities across the territory.
But analysts remain unconvinced that the country has the military might to keep up kinetic action against both Israel and the U.S., with the conflict now in its 11th day.
However, Vladimir Putin today vowed to back Iran and condemned 'groundless' aggression against its ally.
The Kremlin last night accused the United States of opening a Pandora's box with its strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, warning it was gambling with the 'safety and well-being of humanity as a whole'.
Russia had already condemned Israel's strikes against Iran, and has said that targeting nuclear facilities risks throwing the region into greater chaos.