Israeli media have reported that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in critical condition and has been rushed to hospital.

Channel 14 (C14), citing sources inside Iran, and the Jerusalem Post, quoting IranWire and figures close to President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration, stated that rumours of Khamenei being in an “extremely critical condition” are circulating widely at the highest levels of the regime.

One source even remarked that they “would not be surprised if we heard news of his martyrdom soon.”

Khamenei assumed the position of Supreme Leader shortly after his father was killed in joint US-Israeli military strikes on 28 February 2026. Since then, he has not made any public appearances and has communicated only through written statements.

Reports suggest he was injured and possibly disfigured in the initial strikes on his father’s compound, forcing him into hiding and compelling him to rely on intermediaries to communicate with senior regime figures in order to avoid further targeting.

President Masoud Pezeshkian recently admitted in a state TV interview that direct interaction with Khamenei is currently “very difficult.” This acknowledgement has added weight to speculation about his health and accessibility.

International and regional reports have repeatedly questioned both his physical location and his capacity to lead. In July, Saudi outlet al-Hadath, citing an Israeli security source, claimed that Khamenei was “not in Iran.” Around the same time, US President Donald Trump asserted in a Fox News interview that Iran’s top military leadership had been eliminated, claiming that Khamenei was “90% gone” and incapacitated following the military campaign.

Iranian state officials have consistently downplayed the severity of his injuries. Representatives from the Health Ministry previously described them as superficial, while senior officials maintained that he continues to provide strategic oversight and operational directives. However, the persistent absence of live appearances or direct public addresses has fuelled intense speculation about his health and the stability of his leadership.

Western and opposition intelligence sources have frequently suggested that Khamenei sustained severe or disfiguring injuries, explaining his total absence from public view and reliance solely on written statements. Contrastingly, Iranian officials insist he remains capable of guiding the country’s strategic direction. This divergence in narratives underscores the uncertainty surrounding his condition and the future of Iran’s leadership at a time of heightened regional tension.

ANI