Tehran: Speculation over the health of Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has intensified after Israeli media outlets reported that he is in critical condition and was taken to a hospital.
Israeli broadcaster Channel 14, citing sources it said were based inside Iran, reported that Khamenei’s condition had deteriorated significantly. The claims were also linked to an earlier report by The Jerusalem Post, which cited IranWire and sources reportedly close to the administration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
However, there has been no independent confirmation of the reported hospitalisation or the exact condition of the Iranian leader.
Questions over Khamenei’s health
The latest reports have added to months of uncertainty surrounding Mojtaba Khamenei’s health and whereabouts. Since taking over as Iran’s Supreme Leader following the death of his father in US-Israeli strikes on February 28, 2026, he has reportedly made no live public appearance.
His communications have largely been limited to written statements, further fuelling speculation about his health and ability to perform his duties.
Some reports have claimed that Khamenei suffered injuries during the initial military strikes and subsequently went into hiding to avoid becoming a target. Those accounts have not been independently verified.
Pezeshkian comments add to speculation
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has previously acknowledged that maintaining direct contact with the Supreme Leader has become difficult.
The comments have attracted attention amid reports from regional and Western sources questioning where Khamenei is currently located and how actively he is involved in Iran’s decision-making process.
In July, Saudi broadcaster Al-Hadath, citing an Israeli security source, reported that Khamenei was no longer in Iran. The claim was not independently confirmed.
US President Donald Trump also previously claimed that senior Iranian military leadership had suffered major losses during the conflict and said Khamenei was severely incapacitated.
Tehran has rejected claims of severe injuries
Iranian officials have offered a different account of the Supreme Leader’s health.
Iran’s Health Ministry had previously described his injuries following the initial strikes as superficial, while senior officials have maintained that he remains involved in strategic decisions and continues to issue directives.
The conflicting accounts have made it difficult to independently establish Khamenei’s current medical condition.
No official confirmation of hospitalisation
The latest report of a hospital admission remains unverified. Neither the Iranian government nor other independent sources have publicly confirmed that Khamenei was moved to a hospital or that he is in critical condition.
If the reports are eventually confirmed, the development could have significant implications for Iran’s political leadership, particularly given the country’s ongoing confrontation with Israel and the United States.
For now, the absence of a direct public appearance and conflicting claims from Iranian and foreign sources continue to keep Khamenei’s health and whereabouts at the centre of intense regional speculation.
