The Israel-Iran war has come to an end temporarily. The cease-fire had been in effect after US President Donald Trump announced the truce. Though Iran is taking time to return to normal, the Muslim nation is expected to stabilise soon. But where is Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei? Reports suggest that he hasn’t yet been seen in Iran even after the truce. The leader disappeared from both his home and office soon after the Israel-Iran war began, and the IDF targeted top Iranian officials. Khamenei, who has the final say on key decisions in Iran, has not been seen publicly or heard from in nearly a week, despite the extraordinary crisis that his country has faced.
Where Is Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?
Iranian officials have said Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been sheltering at a bunker and refraining from electronic communication to prevent assassination attempts against him. His absence has surprised and unnerved everyone from political insiders to the general public. Mehdi Fazaeli, the head of Khamenei’s archives office, has reportedly said that “The people who are responsible for protecting the supreme leader are doing their job well.” he added. “God willing, our people can celebrate victory next to their leader, God willing.”
The question about the Supreme Leader’s disappearance was raised on Iranian state television, where the host posed it to Mehdi Fazaeli, head of Khamenei’s archives office. His absence- a matter of great concern at this critical time- is something that many in Iran, from political elites to ordinary citizens, have been questioning.
The host asked, noting that viewers had sent a flood of messages: “People are very worried about the supreme leader,” the host said to an official from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s office on Tuesday. “Can you tell us how he is?” Mehdi avoided giving a straight answer. Instead, Fazaeli said that many people, including government officials, had asked him about the Supreme Leader. They were worried about him after the heavy bombing attacks by Israel and the United States.
Fazeli said, “We should all be praying.” He also added that “The people who are responsible for protecting the supreme leader are doing their job well, God willing, our people can celebrate victory next to their leader, God willing.”
Official Version Of His Hiding
According to Iranian officials, Khamenei has been sheltering at a bunker and refraining from electronic communication to prevent assassination attempts against him. He has remained absent, issuing no public statements or recorded messages. The New York Times quoted Mohsen Khalifeh, the editor in chief of Khaneman, a daily newspaper focused on real-estate development-
“Days-long absence has made all of us who love him very worried.” Acknowledging a possibility that two weeks ago would have seemed unthinkable, Khalifeh added that if Mr. Khamenei were dead, his funeral procession would be “the most glorious and historic.”
Did The US Speak To Him Before The Cease-fire Deal?
Khamenei, as the supreme leader, makes the final decision on all important matters in the country. As he is also the head of the military, any big military action, like attacking a U.S. base or agreeing to a cease-fire with Israel, would need his approval. As per reports, the cease-fire agreement, requested by President Trump which was mediated by the emir of Qatar, have been brokered swiftly. But top military and government officials have not clearly said whether they have met or talked with Khamenei in the past few days. They are avoiding the question.
Khamenei has not spoken publicly, and many people have started guessing and asking questions about him. They wonder if he is really involved in the recent important decisions, since it might be hard to contact him. People are asking: Is he still running the country every day? Is he hurt, sick, or even alive? Some believe that Khamenei was weighing in on key decisions remotely.
Khamenei’s supporters say that they cannot feel Iran has been victorious in the war against Israel until they see or hear from the supreme leader.
Hidden Implications Of Khamenei’s Disappearance
Some senior Iranian officials, People who know what’s happening inside the government, said that, since Khamenei is not around, politicians and army leaders are trying to take control. They are making groups and competing with each other. Each group has a different idea about what Iran should do next- about its nuclear program, talks with the United States, and the conflict with Israel.
According to the factions, the group that seems stronger right now wants peace and talks instead of more fighting. The New York Times reported that this faction includes Pezeshkian, who has said he is ready to talk with the United States, even after Trump bombed Iran’s nuclear sites. His supporters include the head of the courts, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, who is close to the supreme leader, and the new army chief, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi.
