The "Crown of Thorns" scenario, the option of assassinating Ali Khamenei at the height of the Iranian crisis and confrontation with the United States

As the confrontation between Washington and Tehran approaches the point of explosion, a scenario called "Crown of Thorns" has been proposed by a former CIA agent, who introduces the assassination of Ali Khamenei as an operational and possible option with the cooperation of Israel.

Amid escalating tensions between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran and an increasing threatening tone from the White House, a former CIA officer has proposed a complex scenario that aims to physically eliminate the Islamic Republic's leader, Ali Khamenei, a scenario that he says could be implemented with the support and cooperation of Israel.

At the same time as the US military presence in the Persian Gulf is being strengthened and pressure is increasing on Tehran, US President Donald Trump, emphasizing that "time is running out", called on the Islamic Republic to negotiate to achieve a "nuclear weapons-free agreement".

In response to the increasing threats, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced in a speech that Iranian forces are ready with their finger on the trigger to respond immediately and powerfully if any action is taken against their country.

In a report published by the British website Daily Express, former CIA covert operations officer Andrew Bustamante described a scenario he called "Crown of Thorns," a plan that he said could be implemented with the aim of eliminating the leader of the Islamic Republic if the confrontation between the United States and Iran escalates.

He said: "Washington has all the tools necessary to change the behavior or power structure in Tehran, but instead of arresting the leader of the Islamic Republic (which is not a priority due to its operational costs and political consequences), eliminating the target is a less costly, faster, and more operational option."

Bustamante emphasized that the option of arresting Khamenei would require the direct and overt presence of US military forces on Iranian soil, a move that he considered strategically unnecessary and costly.

According to this former agent, if the "Crown of Thorns" scenario is implemented, Washington could provide financial, intelligence, and logistical resources to its allies, especially Israel, to carry out assassination operations.

He added: "America can remain behind the scenes and Israel can play the main operational role, but ultimately America's main goal, which is to weaken the Islamic Republic, will be achieved."

The comments come as tensions between Washington and Tehran have risen to unprecedented levels in recent months. The White House has been reviewing reports that include broad military options against the Iranian regime after talks with Tehran on curbing its nuclear and missile programs failed to yield results.

During this period, Trump has explicitly warned that if a deal is not reached on Iran's nuclear program, the next US strike will be much more severe, a clear indication of the possibility of escalating military action against the Islamic Republic.

At the same time, the economic and social crisis within Iran has deepened and international pressures are significant, including reports of the extensive financial influence of Iranian elites abroad, which indicate that the power structure in Iran is facing numerous challenges.

Bustamante referred to the experience of the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the former leader of the Hamas movement, in Tehran and emphasized that the same model used in that operation could also be applied to Khamenei.

He also said in this regard: "The same thing that was done with the Hamas leader can also be done with Khamenei."
Haniyeh was targeted in an attack in August 2024 during a trip to Tehran, which the Revolutionary Guard described as a missile fired through mobile phone tracking, and Israel claimed responsibility for the attack.

Some security analysts believe that increased pressure and military options against Iran, especially if it involves the physical removal of senior leaders, could have dangerous consequences for regional and global stability. Given the likely reactions of Iran and the role of regional actors such as Israel, any action at this level could lead to increased tensions and wider instability.

While the "Crown of Thorns" plan has been proposed as a theoretical scenario, analysts believe that adopting such an approach could bring new security and political threats not only to Iran but also to the region and international relations.

Andrew Bustamante's statements about the "Crown of Thorns" scenario show that at the highest levels of US security analysis, the option of physically removing the leader of the Islamic Republic is not just a hypothetical issue but also a debatable calculation in the context of escalating confrontation with Tehran.

This scenario, which relies on Washington's cooperation with Israel, reflects the fact that the Iran crisis, if it escalates, could reach a more dangerous point than governments have so far expressed.