Mojtaba Khamenei in critical condition following strikes

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is reportedly in an extremely critical condition and could die at any moment following military strikes that killed his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei. According to reports covered by ABP Live, the new leader has not met any members of the country's cabinet since the compound attacks. Rumours circulating among senior officials within the Iranian establishment suggest his health has deteriorated sharply, with International Business Times reporting that insiders are bracing for his imminent passing.

According to opposition-aligned outlet IranWire, citing two unnamed sources close to President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration, the regime's highest levels are actively discussing the leader's deteriorating condition. One source quoted in the reporting stated,

"We would not be surprised if we heard news of his martyrdom soon,"

Media additions

Unnamed source, via IranWire and The Times of Israel

. Khamenei has remained entirely out of public view since assuming the role of Supreme Leader, releasing only written statements through state media while avoiding any audio or video appearances.

Reports indicate that Khamenei was injured during the initial strike that killed his father. Elaborating on the severity of these injuries, The New York Times detailed in April that Khamenei's face and lips were burned severely, impairing his ability to speak. He has reportedly undergone multiple surgeries on his leg while awaiting a prosthetic, alongside necessary plastic surgery for his facial burns.

Further details regarding his isolation emerged from Iran International, which reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian was previously taken to a secret location in Tehran to meet the Supreme Leader. The interaction allegedly took place inside a dark, tinted-window vehicle that prevented the president from seeing him. The meeting lasted only minutes before Pezeshkian was asked to leave without being permitted to shake hands. Pezeshkian subsequently questioned whether the voice he heard truly belonged to Khamenei, contrasting sharply with a previous public description where he claimed to have spent two and a half hours with Khamenei in a cordial atmosphere.

Officials have largely avoided visiting the injured leader due to fears that meetings could expose them to targeted strikes by Israel. Instead, communication relies heavily on intermediaries and a secure human chain delivering handwritten measures back and forth. Meanwhile, U.S. Intelligence agencies believe that Khamenei is significantly more willing to pursue nuclear weapons, having shown greater openness to developing advanced nuclear capabilities despite never publicly endorsing such a program, according to The New York Times.

Key Developments in the Leadership Crisis

• Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen or heard publicly since the war began following strikes on his father's compound.
• State media has published only written statements attributed to him, with no audio or video recordings released.
• Reports indicate severe injuries, including facial burns and leg surgeries, keeping him isolated from cabinet members.
• President Pezeshkian's clandestine encounters and difficulties in communication have fueled internal regime speculation.

What happens next remains uncertain as officials await official confirmation regarding the Supreme Leader's health status. Observers will be watching for any shift in state media broadcasts, potential announcements from the Pezeshkian administration, or signs of a succession struggle within the highest tiers of the Tehran establishment.