Kamal Ghorui
Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is reportedly unconscious and receiving urgent medical treatment in city of Qom, raising serious doubts over who is actually running the country amid an escalating war with the United States and Israel.According to a diplomatic memo seen by The Times, and based on US and Israeli intelligence assessments, the 56-year-old cleric is in a “severe” condition and “unable to be involved in any decision making by the regime”. The memo marks the first time his location has been disclosed publicly, placing him in Qom, Iran’s religious centre. The report adds that intelligence agencies had known of his whereabouts for some time but had not previously revealed it.
Iran has acknowledged that Khamenei was wounded in the same airstrike that killed his father, Ali Khamenei, along with several close family members on February 28. However, officials insist he remains “in charge” of the country, despite his complete absence from public view since the war began. No verified video or audio of him has emerged, with only written statements read out on state television and an AI-generated clip released in recent days.The lack of direct communication has fuelled speculation that the leader may be incapacitated, with opposition groups claiming he is in a coma. Other unverified reports suggest he suffered serious injuries, including fractures and facial wounds. His condition has cast uncertainty over the chain of command in Iran, where the supreme leader holds ultimate political and religious authority.The situation has intensified questions over whether the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is effectively in control, potentially reducing Khamenei to a symbolic figurehead. US President Donald Trump appeared to reinforce that perception, saying he is negotiating with other Iranian officials and not directly with the supreme leader.Meanwhile, preparations are reportedly underway in Qom for the burial of Ali Khamenei, with intelligence indicating plans for a large mausoleum that could hold multiple graves. The delay in his funeral — unusual in Shia tradition, which calls for swift burial — has raised further questions, particularly as Wednesday marks 40 days since his death, the end of the formal mourning period.
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The uncertainty at the top of Iran’s leadership comes as tensions continue to spiral. Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, setting shifting deadlines tied to demands over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has rejected ceasefire proposals and warned it will not yield under pressure.
