The new supreme leader of , , is incapacitated and receiving medical treatment in the holy city of Qom, according to an intelligence assessment that says he is unable to run the country.
A diplomatic memo, which is said to be based on intelligence from and Israel and has been shared with allies in the Persian Gulf, says Khamenei – son of slain longtime leader Ali Khamenei – is unconscious and being treated for a “serious” health problem.
The memo, cited by The Times, reveals for the first time the location of the supreme leader. The city, about 140 kilometers south of Tehran, is considered holy for Shiite Islam.
“Mojtaba Khamenei is hospitalized in Qom in a serious condition, unable to participate in any decision-making process of the regime,” it says.
According to the same document, Ali Khamenei’s body is being prepared for burial in Qom, the seat of Shiite religious authority and known as the country’s religious capital.
Construction of a large mausoleum in Kom
At the same time, intelligence services reportedly detected preparations for the construction of a large mausoleum in Qom, “for more than one grave,” suggesting that other family members, possibly Mojtaba himself, were also involved.
The information about the location of the younger Khamenei is estimated to have been known for some time to the American and Israeli services, but has not been made public until today.
The US National Security Agency has been asked to comment on the memo, as has the Iranian delegation in Washington.
Iran has confirmed that the new supreme leader was wounded in the same airstrike that killed his father, mother, wife and one of his sons on the first day of the war that has since destabilized the region.
Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared or spoken publicly since the start of the war, despite being chosen as the successor in early March.
Since then, two announcements attributed to him have been broadcast on Iranian state television, and a video – produced by artificial intelligence – of him analyzing a military map has also been shown. The absence of an audio document reinforces the information that he remains in critical condition.
Despite assurances from Iranian authorities that the new leader is “exercising his duties normally”, opposition reports say he is in a coma, while other sources speak of serious injuries.
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His alleged inability to govern raises questions about the , with some estimating that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps retains substantial control.
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At the same time, Ali Khamenei’s funeral is being delayed, raising questions as Shiite tradition mandates immediate burial. Wednesday marks 40 days since his death – a milestone for the end of the mourning period.
It is unclear whether Kom will be the final burial site, given concerns about possible attacks on public ceremonies.
In any case, his funeral is expected to be a far cry from that of his predecessor, Ruhollah Khomeini, in 1989, when an estimated 10 million people gathered in Tehran.
Shortly before the start of the war, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps clashed with members of the Mujahideen-e Khalq organization when they attempted to seize a compound housing key regime institutions and Mojtaba’s residence.
