The New York Times reported, citing three Iranian sources familiar with the details, that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is sheltering in his underground bunker and has selected three candidates to succeed him - fearing an assassination attempt. According to the sources, Khamenei primarily communicates with his commanders through a trusted aide and delays electronic communications to make it difficult to locate him. It is claimed that Khamenei has appointed three senior clerics as candidates to replace him and has also chosen successors in his military chain of command in case additional senior officials are eliminated.