Is Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Coma
Amid growing speculation about his health, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has denied reports claiming that he is in a coma. On Sunday, Khamenei posted a photo on his official X account showing him meeting with Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, at his office. The image appeared to be an effort to counter rumors that the 85-year-old leader was seriously ill, which had been circulating in the media following reports in The New York Times in October that Khamenei was in poor health.
The speculation intensified after reports surfaced that Khamenei had secretly nominated his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as his successor during a private meeting. These reports added to concerns about the future of the Islamic Republic’s leadership, especially as Khamenei’s health was said to be deteriorating. However, the image posted by Khamenei showed him in conversation with Amani, suggesting he is still engaged in his official duties. In the post, Khamenei described the meeting as part of his regular schedule of daily appointments.
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Mojtaba Amani, who was injured in a Hezbollah-related explosion in Lebanon earlier this year, had reportedly presented a health update to Khamenei during their meeting. The blast, which took place in September, injured nearly 3,000 people and killed at least 39. Hezbollah, which has close ties to Iran, blamed Israel for the attack, further intensifying tensions in the region.
Khamenei’s health has been a topic of concern for some time, especially after his public reappearance last month when he delivered his first sermon in five years. In his speech on October 5, Khamenei strongly condemned Israel and praised the Palestinian and Lebanese resistance movements, including Hamas and Hezbollah. Holding a gun during the sermon, he declared that Israel would not “last long” and reaffirmed Iran’s support for both Hezbollah and Hamas in their ongoing confrontations with Israeli forces. The sermon followed Iran’s missile strikes on Israeli infrastructure, which Khamenei justified as a “public service.”
As tensions between Israel and Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah and Hamas continue to escalate, Khamenei’s health and potential succession remain critical factors in shaping the future direction of the Islamic Republic.