Now Reading: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei ‘critical’, death rumours swirl
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Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei ‘critical’, death rumours swirl
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei ‘critical’, death rumours swirl
Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in critical condition and hospitalised, with rumours of his imminent death circulating at the highest levels of the regime, according to IranWire citing sources close to…
The Story in Brief
Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in critical condition and hospitalised, with rumours of his imminent death circulating at the highest levels of the regime, according to IranWire citing sources close to President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration. One source reportedly told the outlet that officials would not be surprised to hear news of his 'martyrdom' soon.
Khamenei, who succeeded his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after he was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes on February 28, has not made a public appearance since taking office. President Pezeshkian has acknowledged that direct interaction with the Supreme Leader is 'very difficult'. IranWire reports Khamenei has not met any cabinet members since the attack. US President Donald Trump has claimed Khamenei is '90% gone' and incapacitated.
The Indian Opinion
The competing narratives around Mojtaba Khamenei's health have become a proxy war in themselves. Western and opposition sources paint a picture of a disfigured leader hiding in secret, while Iranian state media insists he is directing affairs through written orders. The public deserves more than either side's spin. The real test will come when Tehran is forced to produce an audio or video recording of Khamenei addressing a live audience, not a pre-recorded statement. Until that happens, scepticism of both the regime's denials and the opposition's death watches is the only sensible position.
Sources (3): hindustantimes.com, timesnownews.com, livemint.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
