Speculation Surrounding Mojtaba Khamenei’s Health: From Media Silence to Rumors of Death

The American magazine The Atlantic has reported, citing sources within the Iranian government, that Mojtaba Khamenei, previously designated as his father's successor, may have died or be brain-dead. An employee of a government institution in Tehran told the magazine that due to a complete cessation of direct communication, the likelihood of his death or a vegetative state is high. Two other government sources claimed this situation began earlier this month.

Since his official appointment as successor, Mojtaba Khamenei has completely disappeared from the public eye. The absence of any new images, audio recordings, or videos, along with his failure to appear at official ceremonies, including his father's memorial in Tehran, has fueled further uncertainty. Reports indicate that even government ministers and senior officials of the Supreme National Security Council have not seen him for months.

According to The Atlantic, alleged meetings with President Masoud Pezeshkian were conducted under extreme security measures, with the President reportedly blindfolded, which some observers interpret as an attempt to conceal his physical absence or inability to govern. In recent weeks, rumors have circulated in internal circles suggesting he was injured in an attack last February.

Meanwhile, a senior Israeli official recently claimed in Washington that Mojtaba Khamenei is alive but physically unfit to lead the country. This situation has raised concerns regarding a power vacuum and the collective management of the state by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as internal tensions between the government and military institutions continue to rise.