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File photo: Mojtaba Khamenei
Two months aft taking implicit arsenic Iran’s ultimate person pursuing the decease of his father, Mojtaba Khamenei has inactive not appeared publically — triggering increasing speculation implicit his health, whereabouts and grip connected powerfulness during 1 of the astir volatile periods successful the country’s caller history.The secrecy surrounding the 56-year-old cleric has deepened amid reports that helium suffered injuries during the February 28 US-Israeli strikes connected Tehran that killed erstwhile ultimate person Ali Khamenei and respective members of his family. While Iranian officials importune Mojtaba Khamenei is “in bully health” and continues to nonstop authorities affairs, diplomats and quality reports suggest bonzer information measures are present successful spot due to the fact that of fears that Israel could effort to assassinate him.
Security fears and hidden communications
According to the Financial Times, Iranian officials person gradually begun disclosing details astir Khamenei’s injuries successful an effort to antagonistic reports that helium suffered life-threatening wounds oregon adjacent died during the attack. Mazaher Hosseini, caput of protocol successful the ultimate leader’s office, said Khamenei was struck by the blast question portion climbing stairs adjacent the targeted compound.Hosseini claimed the person suffered injuries to his kneecap, little backmost and down 1 receptor aft being thrown to the crushed by the explosion.
“He volition travel and marque speeches for you erstwhile the clip comes,” Hosseini told supporters, urging patience amid mounting speculation.Iran’s wellness ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour besides denied reports that Khamenei’s look had been disfigured oregon that immoderate limbs were amputated. Iranian officials person accused overseas media and Tehran’s adversaries of spreading “false claims” aimed astatine portraying the enactment arsenic anemic and divided.Despite those assurances, diplomats and quality reports suggest information fears stay highly high. According to reports cited by the FT and CNN, Khamenei has avoided physics communications amid fears that Israel could effort to assassinate him. Messages betwixt the ultimate leader, authorities officials and subject commanders are reportedly being passed by manus done trusted couriers to debar surveillance oregon tracking.
Nuclear talks deepen unit connected Tehran
The uncertainty surrounding Khamenei’s information comes arsenic Iran remains locked successful tense negotiations with the medication of Donald Trump implicit Tehran’s atomic programme and the aboriginal of the Strait of Hormuz.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian precocious said helium had personally met Khamenei, a determination wide interpreted arsenic an effort to show that the ultimate person remains progressive and authoritative. Tehran has besides insisted that Khamenei personally ordered that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile indispensable not permission the country, rejecting 1 of Washington’s cardinal demands.Trump, meanwhile, has openly questioned the coherence of Iran’s leadership, saying past period that Tehran’s rulers were “all messed up” and “have nary thought who their person is”.Behind the scenes, however, Iranian officials look progressively acrophobic that the existent intermission successful warring whitethorn lone beryllium temporary. According to Reuters, elder figures successful Tehran fearfulness the US and Israel could motorboat caller strikes if negotiations collapse.
