Khaberni - The British Times newspaper has released new details about the health condition of the Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, and information about arrangements related to the body of his late father Ali Khamenei.
The newspaper presented information based on a diplomatic note - believed to be grounded on U.S. and Israeli intelligence data - indicating that the Iranian leader is unconscious and receiving treatment for a condition described as critical.
According to the memo reviewed by the newspaper, Mojtaba Khamenei is receiving treatment in the city of Qom, southwest of the capital Tehran, which is considered the center of Shiite religious studies and a stronghold of its scholars in Iran.
The note portrays a concerning picture of his health status, indicating that he is "in a critical condition and unable to participate in any decision-making processes within the regime."
Against this background, the newspaper reported that both U.S. and Israeli intelligence had been aware of his whereabouts for some time, but the information remained confidential until now.
It mentioned that there had been communication with the U.S. National Security Agency, alongside the Iranian mission in Washington operating from within the Pakistani embassy, in an attempt to obtain an official comment on the memo's content.
Despite Iranian officials insisting that he still leads the country, leaks and various reports have painted a different picture, with opposition groups talking about him being in a coma, while other accounts referred to him suffering severe injuries, including a broken leg and face injuries.
According to the newspaper, as these conflicting narratives circulate, questions are rising about the true situation at the top of the power hierarchy in Tehran, in a system where the Supreme Leader is the ultimate political and religious reference.
In this context, there is an increasing speculation that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard might actually be the one in control, while Khamenei remains in a position closer to a silent facade rather than being the decision-maker, according to the British newspaper.
The official Iranian narrative confirms that the air strike which targeted the leaders on the first day of the war not only ended the life of the former leader Ali Khamenei, but also injured his son and successor, Mojtaba, along with killing several family members, including Mojtaba's mother and his wife Zahra Haddad Adel and one of his children.
Since that moment, the emergence of the new leader has been shrouded in mystery, as no visible trace or sound of him has been observed or heard, despite his election to succeed his father in early March. His presence has been limited to only two statements, which were read on official television, without any live appearance.
The newspaper adds that this ambiguity increased with the broadcast of a video clip, said to be produced by artificial intelligence, showing him in an operations room examining a map of the Dimona nuclear facility in Israel, in a scene that seemed more like an attempt to assert his presence.
The burial of the late leader
Amidst the ambiguity surrounding the current leadership situation, the memo reveals quietly ongoing arrangements for the burial of the late leader Ali Khamenei, with his body being prepared in the city of Qom.
According to the newspaper, information in the memo indicates that preparations are not limited to traditional burial ceremonies, but also include setting the necessary foundations for constructing a large mausoleum, likely comprising more than one grave, paving the way for the possibility of other family members—perhaps even Mojtaba himself—being buried alongside the late leader.
On the other hand, the official narrative took a different direction, with Iranian news agencies reporting that the late leader would be buried in his birthplace of Mashhad, one of the most significant Shiite pilgrimage sites in northeastern Iran, along with mentions of upcoming memorial services in Tehran, though no clear date has been specified.
However, the announcement of postponing the official funeral on the grounds of an "unprecedented expected attendance" has raised marked inquiries. According to the newspaper, the issue of timing gains additional sensitivity as the 40-day mark since Khamenei's death on February 28 approaches, marking the end of the traditional mourning period.
According to the newspaper, amidst these circumstances, the fate of the final burial site remains undecided, amid security concerns over possible targeting of any funeral gathering by Israel or the United States, potentially leading to more cautious arrangements or even a temporary burial.
The memo concludes that the Iranian authorities appear keen this time to avoid such a scenario, with concerns about potential disturbances or attempts to disrupt the ceremonies or even target the graves, which demands unprecedented and stringent security arrangements.
