‘Mouse Ali’: Khamenei’s Hidden Network Sustains His Authoritarian Rule from Hiding

While Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s absence has been largely mocked by his opposition and interpreted by Western media as a sign of fear, it has demonstrated how deeply embedded his network of control in Iran truly is, a new report by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) noted on Thursday. Reports have suggested that the 86-year-old Islamist has been hiding out in a secure bunker, leading Iranian critics to label him “Moushe-Ali” (Mouse Ali). Nevertheless, years of embedding his loyal clerics throughout civil society have enabled him to maintain control, the organization noted.