Iran's Supreme Leader in Critical Condition
Mojtaba Khamenei hospitalized and unseen in public since assuming office after his father's assassination in February; sources close to the top of the regime do not rule out 'martyrdom.'
Mojtaba Khamenei hospitalized and unseen in public since assuming office after his father's assassination in February; sources close to the top of the regime do not rule out 'martyrdom.'
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in critical condition and hospitalized, with rumors circulating at the highest levels of the Iranian regime that news of his death could be announced soon, according to a Friday report by the IranWire portal, citing sources close to the administration of President Masoud Pezeshkian.
One of those sources told IranWire: "We would not be surprised if we soon hear news of his martyrdom." The news was further relayed by India's ANI news agency.
Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the position of Supreme Leader shortly after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes on February 28, 2026. Since then, the new Supreme Leader has not made a single public appearance, communicating with regime officials exclusively through written statements.
According to the Hindustan Times, Khamenei was injured and potentially disfigured in the initial strikes that targeted his father's compound, forcing him into hiding. Since then, he has been compelled to communicate with senior regime officials through a slow network of intermediaries to avoid becoming a target himself.
Speculation about his condition has been further fueled by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian himself, who admitted in an interview with state television that direct interaction with Khamenei is currently "very difficult."
His physical location and ability to perform his duties have been repeatedly questioned in international and regional reports. Saudi media outlet al-Hadath claimed in July 2026, citing an Israeli security source, that Khamenei "is not in Iran."
Around the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump stated in an interview with Fox News that Iran's military leadership had been eliminated and that Khamenei was "90% gone" and incapacitated following the military campaign.
Iranian state officials have previously tried to downplay the severity of Khamenei's initial injuries. Representatives of Iran's Ministry of Health described them as superficial, while senior officials claimed he continues to provide strategic oversight and operational guidance for the country.
However, Western and opposition intelligence sources have repeatedly suggested that Khamenei suffered severe injuries or disfigurement, leading to his complete absence from public appearances and reliance solely on written statements.
