How is the identity of any country in the world? There are many parameters, such as its history, its culture, its geographical environment. Apart from all this, there is another thing that determines the course and character of a country. The governments that run that country, the head of that government. This formula applies to Iran as well. But the president is Iran’s highest authority.
But in terms of powers, the supreme leader has a bigger authority. The same Supreme Leader who threatens Israel on the matter is seen threatening to see Netanyahu. But now a news has come out about the same Supreme Leader. Speculation has been rife about the health of the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran.
Unconfirmed reports on social media claimed that 85-year-old Khamenei was reportedly in a coma. Some people claim that he is dead. However, while Iran has not responded to the rumors, Khamenei posted a photo of himself meeting the Iranian ambassador.
Israeli media outlet Ynet News quoted Iran International as saying that Khamenei is suffering from a serious illness. Several unconfirmed reports on social media have also claimed that he is either in coma. Along with this, it is also being claimed that he has also died. However, misinformation researcher Tal Hagin has said that some of the photos on social media are from 2014.
Speculation about the supreme leader’s health has intensified amid the recent conflict between Israel and Iran. Rumors have gained momentum after A report in The New York Times said that the aging Iranian leader is seriously ill. But Iranian officials have neither denied nor confirmed these claims.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has already chosen a successor to his son Mojtaba Khamenei, according to a report in Ynetnews. Mojtaba Khamenei, allegedly the supreme leader’s second son, was elected during a secret meeting of the experts’ meeting on September 26. Ayatollah Khamenei convened an unusual meeting in September in which 60 members of the Assembly of Iranian Experts gathered.
He was directed to take an early decision on succession. According to the report, though the assembly was highly confidential, the members were not giving any information about what was being expected of them. There was some opposition to this process as well as the selection of a successor.
However, the meeting of experts was forced by the supreme leader and his representatives to elect Mojtaba Khamenei. The report said that after the request, the decision was finally taken unanimously, including threats.
The meeting and decision were kept secret due to fears of widespread opposition to the succession plan and the undemocratic process of choosing the next leader. Attendees were warned that any leaks would have consequences. While his selection is no surprise, his appointment is expected to be questioned as he lacks experience and has not held any formal position in the Iranian government.
Some sources familiar with the meeting have said there is a possibility that the ayatollah may hand over the reins to his son during his lifetime, as it could make change easier. The Ynet report said he believed this could help secure the leadership of Mojtaba Khamenei and prevent any protests that may arise after the death of the supreme leader.
The ayatollah’s second son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was born in Mashhad in 1969. They were trained by influential teachers. Simultaneously, Mojtaba studied theology and became a cleric following his father’s path. He still teaches theology at Qom Seminary, Iran’s largest Islamic seminary.
Mojtaba Khamenei has largely stayed out of the public eye. However, his importance in Tehran has increased in the last two years. Mojtaba Khamenei has become more active in Iranian politics and has played a role in decision-making in the regime.
In the elections held in 2005 and 2009, Mojtaba Khamenei supported Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He is said to have played a role in the presidential victory in 2009 and reportedly suppressed the protests that erupted in Iran after the election.
However, relations between the two soured after Ahmadinejad accused Mojtaba of embezzling funds from government treasuries. In 2021 Mojtaba Khamenei was granted the title of ayatollah, a constitutional requirement to serve as Iran’s supreme leader.
Iran has not made any formal succession announcement. Reports of the ayatollah’s health and the selection of Mojtaba remain speculative. However, a day after the report of the coma, the supreme leader posted a photo with an Iranian ambassador on November 17.
The photo posted on Khamenei’s X account shows him talking to Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, in his office. He wrote in Persian that the leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei, met with Mojtaba Amani, the veteran ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Lebanon this afternoon and spoke on the sidelines of their daily meetings.
The president is the supreme authority of Iran. But in terms of power, he is not at the top. According to Iran’s constitution, the president is the second most powerful person in Iran. He is the head of the executive whose responsibility is to enforce the Constitution.
The biggest authority here is the Supreme Leader. His official title is – Ayatollah. Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, only two people have reached the post of supreme leader. The first of these was Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Iranian Republic, and the second is his successor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The supreme leader is the commander-in-chief of Iran’s armed forces.
Apart from the supreme leader, Iran also has a parliament and a committee of experts. Iran’s 290-member parliament, the Majlis, is elected through general elections every four years.
The committee of experts is a strong body of 88 members, which includes Islamic scholars and ulema. The work of this institution is to monitor the performance of the supreme leader from his appointment. Iran’s chief justice is appointed by the supreme leader. The Chief Justice is accountable to the Supreme Leader.