Is Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei ill?
Rumors are circulating all over social media that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is ill and in coma amid heightened tensions between Israel and Iran.
The 85-year-old cleric is reportedly in a coma, according to unsourced social media claims, though these remain unverified.
Iran’s Ali Khamenei uploads photo amid ill-ness rumours
While Iranian officials have not addressed the rumors, Ali Khamenei meanwhile uploaded a photo with an Iranian ambassador to clam down the speculations.
But the photo could not stop the rumor mill.
Israeli News site Ynet News, quoting Iran International, reported that Ali Khamenei is suffering from a dangerous illness.
The New York Times also said the Supreme Leader is “seriously ill.”
Adding to the muddle, misinformation researcher Tal Hagin pointed out that some of the images circulating widely on social media date back to 2014, further obscuring the connection to the current situation.
Without confirmation or denial from Iranian authorities, the rumors are adding fuel to the rising tensions between Israel and Iran.
Who will succeed Ali Khamenei?
As concerns over Khamenei’s health grow, questions about his succession have surfaced.
Though Ali Khamenei can’t appoint a new supreme leader because supreme leader is elected by the Assembly of Experts who are elected by Iranian voters to eight year terms, there are unsourced reports that Ali Khomeini has appointed his son as his successor.
This seems to be a western propaganda.
On the other hand, according to Ynet News’, quoting ‘Iran International’, Khamenei has already chosen his successor—his second son, Mojtaba Khamenei.
According to reports, the decision took place during a clandestine session of the Assembly of Experts in Iran held on September 26.
According to unverified reports, the Supreme Leader had called for an urgent assembly by all 60 members, asking them to agree on a successor immediately.
The process was far from smooth. Some assembly members resisted both the urgency of the decision and the choice of Mojtaba Khamenei.
It is important to mention here neither the rumors about the Supreme Leader’s health nor reports of Mojtaba as his successor have been confirmed or denied by the Iranian government.
