Tehran, Iran – An Iranian official has revealed the latest developments regarding the health of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, amid growing speculation about his condition and his conspicuous absence from the memorial services for his father, Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in an Israeli strike targeting the capital, Tehran, on February 28, 2016. In an interview with the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA), Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, responding to questions about the new Supreme Leader’s health and the reason for his absence from the memorial services, said: “God willing, Mr. Mojtaba is in good health. He is currently not in contact with anyone or anything due to certain circumstances, but God willing, he is in good health.”
The whereabouts of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, remain shrouded in secrecy, amid growing questions about his true health and the extent of his actual influence within Tehran’s decision-making circles. According to intelligence assessments, he is still in the country after surviving an assassination attempt, but he is suffering from severe injuries that have left him more vulnerable and almost entirely dependent on the leadership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), particularly its commander, Ahmad Vahidi. Since being wounded in the attack that killed his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public, and all his statements since then have been limited to written pronouncements.
Political vision and similarity with the late leadership
The Iranian official, in his speech, referred to the spirit and policies of Mojtaba Khamenei, especially with regard to economic issues and the livelihood of the people and low-income segments, adding: “In short, I can say that he resembles his father. That is, the same values, the same personality, the same vision, the same empathy, and the same connection with the people, which we saw in the presence of the Dalai Lama, are also present in Agha Mojtaba.”
Israeli intelligence assessments regarding the influence of the Revolutionary Guard
Israeli officials believe that Mojtaba Khamenei’s continued absence does not necessarily mean he has lost control of the levers of power. They suggest his disappearance may be linked to heightened security concerns and the possibility of a new assassination attempt by Tel Aviv. In the same vein, an Israeli security source stated that Khamenei is “not in his right mind,” adding that he operates in a way that makes him extremely difficult to reach, in order to protect his security position and prevent the disclosure of his secret location. The Israeli official explained, “Mojtaba is in Iran. He is injured and a very weak figure, and he is being controlled by Ahmad Vahidi. There is a deliberate attempt to create an atmosphere of secrecy surrounding him, but the truth is that Vahidi dictates everything to him.”
Unusual absence and mounting internal pressures
Israeli officials considered Mojtaba Khamenei’s absence from his father’s funeral highly unusual, even given the tight security measures in place, suggesting it might indicate a deep crisis within the highest echelons of Iran’s political and authoritarian regime. Earlier reports indicated that Mojtaba Khamenei suffered severe facial burns during the initial attack and has since been held in a highly secure and secret location. In a failed attempt to quell the tense domestic situation following his father’s funeral, Khamenei issued a written statement in recent days. However, hardliners have demanded he make a public appearance or allow the public to hear his voice, which has not yet happened, further fueling speculation about his political and health future.
