In a development that has sent shockwaves through Iran and the broader Middle East, multiple intelligence reports suggest that Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, is unconscious and in critical condition in the holy city of Qom. The news, first reported by The Times on April 7, 2026, and corroborated by various intelligence sources from the United States and Israel, has raised profound questions about the stability and direction of the Iranian leadership amid ongoing conflict.
The diplomatic memo, which has reportedly been shared with Gulf allies and reviewed by several international news organizations including i24NEWS and The Times, states unequivocally: “Mojtaba Khamenei is being treated in Qom in a severe condition, unable to be involved in any decision-making by the regime.” This marks the first public confirmation of the supreme leader’s location since the war began, breaking weeks of speculation and rumor about his whereabouts and health.
Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed the role of supreme leader in early March after the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on February 28, has not appeared in public since shortly after his appointment. That airstrike, which also claimed the lives of Mojtaba’s mother, wife, and son, marked a grim turning point in the region’s escalating conflict. According to the intelligence memo, Mojtaba sustained injuries in the same attack, leaving him incapacitated and unable to participate in the regime’s critical decision-making processes.
The absence of direct communication from Mojtaba has only deepened the uncertainty. Since the start of the war, only two statements attributed to him have been broadcast on Iranian state television, both read by others rather than featuring his voice or image. In one particularly telling incident, an AI-generated video showed the leader walking into a war room and analyzing a map of Israel’s nuclear facility at Dimona, but no authentic audio or video of Mojtaba himself has been released. As The Times notes, "The lack of a recording of his voice adds weight to unverified reports that he remains in a critical condition."
Tehran has not issued any official statement confirming or denying these reports. Iranian officials continue to insist that Mojtaba remains in charge, but opposition groups and international analysts are not convinced. According to opposition-linked sources cited by Iran International, a military council comprised of senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officers has assumed de facto control over decision-making in Iran. The council is reportedly preventing Mojtaba from receiving information about developments in the country, further fueling speculation about a behind-the-scenes power struggle.
Complicating matters, tensions are said to be rising between President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration and the IRGC. Reports indicate that Pezeshkian’s recent request to meet with Mojtaba Khamenei went unanswered, and no communication was established. This disconnect between the civilian administration and the military establishment points to a deepening rift at the heart of Iran’s political system.
The uncertainty surrounding Mojtaba’s condition and the apparent power vacuum have prompted concerns about the future of the Islamic Republic. Analysts cited by The Times suggest that the IRGC could be exercising de facto control in the absence of active leadership from the supreme leader. "His reported incapacity has called into doubt Khamenei’s status in a country where the supreme leader is the absolute political and religious authority," the report observes. Some have gone so far as to speculate that Mojtaba may now serve as little more than a figurehead, with real power residing in the hands of the military council.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway in Qom for the burial of Ali Khamenei, the late supreme leader. Intelligence sources cited by The Times and i24NEWS report that groundwork is being laid for a large mausoleum intended for "more than one grave," suggesting that Mojtaba and other family members could eventually be buried alongside Ali. This detail is significant, as earlier Iranian reports had indicated that Ali Khamenei would be buried in Mashhad, his home city and a major pilgrimage site. The delay in the funeral—now 40 days after Ali’s death—has raised eyebrows, particularly given Shi’ite customs that favor burial soon after death. Iranian authorities have attributed the postponement to expectations of an unprecedented turnout, but the continued uncertainty has drawn scrutiny both inside and outside the country.
Qom’s central role in this unfolding drama is no accident. The city, located 87 miles south of Tehran, is Iran’s religious capital and the seat of its most important Shi’ite seminaries. It was also the site of an Israeli airstrike in early March that reportedly targeted the Assembly of Experts as they met to choose Ali Khamenei’s successor—a stark reminder of the city’s importance in both the clerical succession process and the broader power structure of the Islamic Republic.
The leadership crisis comes at a time of heightened security concerns. Just days before these reports emerged, Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi, head of IRGC intelligence, was killed in airstrikes on Tehran as part of a broader campaign by Israel and the United States that has claimed more than 25 lives. The ongoing conflict has only added to the sense of instability and urgency surrounding Iran’s leadership vacuum.
Amid the turmoil, voices from outside Iran have weighed in as well. Former US President Donald Trump remarked last month, "The supreme leader of Iran is dead or seriously wounded because nobody hears from him. Who would want to lead Iran? Nobody." Trump has claimed to be negotiating with Iranian officials, though he made clear he is not dealing directly with the supreme leader.
As Iran grapples with the fallout from these unprecedented events, the world watches closely. The fate of Mojtaba Khamenei, the role of the IRGC, and the future of the Islamic Republic itself remain deeply uncertain. For now, all eyes are on Qom, where the fate of a nation—and perhaps the stability of the wider region—hangs in the balance.