A source close to the Iranian medical cabinet said that no cabinet member has met with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei since he assumed leadership, and described his physical condition as poor, adding 'we would not be surprised to hear news of his death soon.' The report follows earlier confirmation by Israeli officials that Khamenei is alive.
A source close to the Iranian medical cabinet told The Zioneer on Friday afternoon that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's physical condition is poor, and that no cabinet member has met with him since he assumed leadership. The source said they 'would not be surprised to hear news of his death soon.' This marks the latest in a series of reports Friday about the leader's health, following earlier claims from the opposition outlet IranWire citing sources close to the Pezeshkian administration that Khamenei was in critical condition.
The Zioneer first reported on the IranWire claims at 07:26 Jerusalem, when the outlet cited two sources saying Khamenei had not met with government officials since the February 28 strike that killed his father, Ali Khamenei, and that his health was serious. Over the next several hours, The Zioneer published six updates, each escalating the account: from isolation and poor health to 'critical condition,' then 'extremely critical,' and finally that he 'could die at any moment.' All reports originated from anonymous sources close to the Pezeshkian administration and remained unverified. The new source, described as close to the Iranian medical cabinet, provides a separate channel of information consistent with the earlier claims.
The Zioneer has tracked the question of Khamenei's health and whereabouts for months. On July 5, The Zioneer reported that security fears kept Khamenei from attending his father's funeral, as Iranian security apparatuses concluded a public appearance was too dangerous. Israeli officials have confirmed in recent weeks that Khamenei is alive, as The Zioneer reported on July 20 quoting Middle East scholar Yoni Ben Menachem, and on July 29 citing a senior Israeli political source. Earlier reports, including from Iran International on June 8, noted a loss of contact with Khamenei during a missile escalation, suggesting potential breakdowns in command-and-control.
The claims remain unconfirmed by official Iranian state channels. The new source is anonymous, and the Iranian medical cabinet has not issued any public statement. The extent of Khamenei's condition, his ability to govern, and the true state of command within the Islamic Republic remain unclear.
6 developments
- DevelopingYoni Ben Menachem: Mojtaba Khamenei alive and in Iran, cabinet ministers informed
- StrongSenior Israeli source: Iran deterred from attacking Israel, confirms Khamenei alive
- StrongUnverified reports: Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei appeared at father's funeral events
- StrongMediators informed: Mojtaba Khamenei functioning as supreme leader, avoiding public appearances after plastic surgery
Source and signal
- Open-source intake