IranWire reported Friday that two sources close to President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration say Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in extremely critical condition, with questions growing over whether he is capable of ruling. The report follows a similar claim earlier Friday from the same outlet.
The opposition outlet IranWire reported Friday that two sources close to President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration describe Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's condition as 'extremely critical' and say he could die at any moment. The report adds that Khamenei has not met any government member since the February 28 strike that killed his father, Ali Khamenei, and destroyed his compound. This is the latest in a series of IranWire reports today, each escalating the language: the first at 07:26 Jerusalem cited a single uncorroborated source claiming Khamenei was isolated and in serious health; subsequent reports cited two sources with increasingly dire assessments, culminating in the current 'extremely critical' framing.
The thread began at 07:26 Jerusalem with IranWire's initial report citing two sources close to Pezeshkian's administration, claiming Khamenei has not met any government officials since the February 28 attack, with regime rumors of failing health and one source stating they 'would not be surprised if we soon hear of his death.' That report carried a warning that it was uncorroborated. Minutes later, IranWire published a second version reporting that Khamenei is in critical condition and death could come soon. A third version, also at 07:26, confirmed critical condition and imminent death risk. The fourth version explicitly stated Khamenei has not met any government member since the February strike. The corroboration evolved from a single uncorroborated source to two named sources, though the outlet remains opposition and official confirmation is absent.
Khamenei has not been seen in public since his father, Ali Khamenei, was killed in an Israeli strike in June. As The Zioneer reported, he missed his father's funeral due to security fears and assassination risks, with his brothers attending instead. Subsequent reports, including an unverified claim of abduction from a Tehran hospital, have kept his status uncertain. Reuters has noted that his continued absence could weaken the regime.
No Iranian official or state media has confirmed the IranWire report. The regime's opaque succession process and the absence of any public statement from the new leader continue to fuel speculation. The sources are from Pezeshkian's administration, which may have its own interests, and the report originates from an opposition outlet, leaving its reliability open to question.
6 developments
Source and signal
- Open-source intake