Inside the Makeshift War Room: Khamenei’s Two‑by‑Ten‑Metre Sanctuary Unveiled

According to Saed News, the images—first published by the Young Journalists Club in 2016 to mark the anniversary of Operation Karbala‑4—offer a rare glimpse into the austere conditions under which Ayatollah Khamenei oversaw wartime strategy. Situated within the Karbala headquarters, the elongated room measured scarcely two metres in width but stretched ten metres in length, accommodating maps, intelligence briefings and a modest sleeping area for the Leader and a handful of senior commanders.

The bare‑bones interior still bears the contours of maps delineating front‑line positions, underscoring the immediacy of decision‑making in an environment devoid of frills. Sources describe how Khamenei would convene council sessions in the narrow space, relying on hand‑drawn charts pinned to the walls to coordinate defensive maneuvers and supply routes. Despite its Spartan appointments, the chamber became the nerve centre of Iran’s military resilience—an embodiment of regime ethos that valorizes sacrifice and solidarity.

Analysts note that the photographs carry symbolic resonance: they juxtapose the weight of national leadership with the humility of wartime necessity. In a region where power is often signalled through grand architecture, the modest scale of this command room reaffirms a narrative of endurance built on minimal resources. As contemporary Iran reflects on its wartime legacy, the image of Khamenei operating from a narrow corridor serves as a potent reminder that strategy and conviction often thrive in the most confined spaces.