Tel Aviv, Israel – In remarks that sparked widespread international reaction, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his intelligence assessment of the leadership situation in Iran. He also asserted that he believes the new Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is still alive, despite conflicting reports surrounding his recent appearances.
These remarks came as he addressed the dramatic geopolitical shifts that followed the killing of Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli military strike.
Netanyahu’s statements about Khamenei
During an exclusive interview with CBS News, in response to a direct question about Mojtaba Khamenei’s health and his operational influence in running the country’s affairs, Netanyahu said: “I think he is alive. It’s difficult to determine his condition accurately, you know? He lives in exceptional circumstances, hidden in a fortified bunker or a secret location out of sight.”
Netanyahu noted that Mojtaba is “trying hard to exercise his authority” as his father’s successor, but stressed that this authority appears “less weight and influence” compared to the absolute power Ali Khamenei wielded before his assassination. This suggests internal challenges to the stability of the leadership hierarchy in Tehran.
Ambiguity and questions surround the influence of the “new guide”.
Netanyahu’s remarks reinforce earlier reports published by The Wall Street Journal, which indicated that Mojtaba Khamenei, known for his preference for working behind the scenes, has maintained an unexplained silence on sensitive issues, particularly regional negotiations.
According to the newspaper, it remains unclear to what extent Mojtaba is actually involved in the day-to-day political and military decision-making process.
For their part, Iranian officials justify this prolonged absence and seclusion by citing “extreme security concerns.”
According to the newspaper’s sources, the Iranian leadership is fully aware that Israel systematically targeted senior officials before any ceasefire agreements were reached. Furthermore, Mojtaba Khamenei’s name remains at the top of Israel’s target list, keeping him on constant alert within his secret hideouts.
Observers believe Netanyahu’s statements are intended to exert psychological pressure on the Iranian leadership by emphasizing that Israeli intelligence is monitoring the new Supreme Leader’s movements even in his most secret locations. This puts the legitimacy and strength of Mojtaba’s rule to a real test in the eyes of Iran’s ruling elite.
