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NDTV
44 minutes ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Where Is Khamenei? Iran's Supreme Leader Missing Amid Ceasefire And Crisis
It's been over 24 hours since US President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, but the disappearance of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from public view for nearly a week has raised alarm and widespread concern. Despite people taking to the streets of Tehran to celebrate what they call their nation's victory in the recent aerial conflict, Khamenei has yet to address his countrymen. He's neither at home nor office. During an interview with The New York Times, Mehdi Fazaeli, head of Khamenei's archives office, was asked about the Supreme Leader's well-being. "People are very worried about the Supreme Leader," the host asked. Without offering a direct answer, Fazaeli simply said, "We all should be praying." He added that he received numerous inquiries from officials, and viewers had sent a flood of messages asking the same question. He mentioned that the people who are responsible for protecting the Supreme Leader are doing their job well, adding, "God willing, our people can celebrate victory next to their leader, God willing." Earlier, officials reported that the Supreme Leader had been hiding in a secure underground bunker and was avoiding all electronic communication to prevent assassination attempts. But his continued silence despite the extraordinary crisis his country faced only deepened the mystery. The 86-year-old's absence has also worried Mohsen Khalifeh, who leads Khaneman, a real estate-focused newspaper based in Tehran. He said, "Days-long absence [of Khamenei] has made all of us who love him very worried." On rumours about Khamenei's death, he said that if it were true, his funeral procession would be "the most glorious and historic." On Tuesday, Trump announced the ceasefire between Israel and Iran and warned the two countries against violating it. The ceasefire came 12 days after Israel launched an unexpected airstrike in Iran, claiming Tehran was close to producing a nuclear weapon. According to reports, Iranian officials claimed the attacks left 627 people dead and nearly 5,000 injured. In retaliation, Iran also targeted parts of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, leaving a trail of damaged buildings and at least 14 people dead. Just when Israel and Iran traded missiles, Trump ordered the destruction of Tehran's nuclear facilities at three different locations before saying now it was time for peace.
India Today
9 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Where is Khamenei? Supreme Leader absent while Iran faces deadliest escalation
As Iran grapples with a series of unprecedented military escalations, a new mystery has gripped the country: Where is Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?The 86-year-old leader, who wields ultimate authority in Iran, has not been seen or heard from publicly for nearly a week — a silence that has fuelled intense speculation, concern, and unease across the absence comes at a time of intense crisis as Israeli and US forces have jointly bombed three of Iran's prime nuclear sites, Tehran has retaliated with missile strikes on an American base in Qatar, and a shaky ceasefire brokered by Donald Trump is now in The Iranian media has offered no images or statements from Khamenei since the hostilities began. Officials close to him claim he has been moved to a secret underground bunker and is refraining from electronic communication to avoid potential assassination attempts — a threat Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly not ruled out, despite Trump's supposed advisory not to kill the Supreme Leader, according to the New York Times. Reports suggest that even top Iranian government figures are believed to be cut off from direct contact with him. On Tuesday, the host of a prime-time Iranian state television show asked Mehdi Fazaeli, a senior official from Khamenei's office, about the Supreme Leader's whereabouts. "People are very worried about the Supreme Leader. Can you tell us how he is?" the anchor asked. But Fazaeli sidestepped the question, saying "We should all be praying. Those tasked with protecting the Supreme Leader were doing their job".advertisementIn Tehran, women were seen carrying portraits of Khamenei during an anti-US and anti-Israel protest over the weekend, a rare sight in the absence of any guidance or message from their highest authority. The Iranian newspapers are beginning to voice concern as well. "His days-long absence has made all of us who love him very worried," Mohsen Khalifeh, editor of Khaneman, a daily newspaper. He added that if Khamenei were dead, "his funeral would be the most glorious and historic".Notably, a three-man committee from a top clerical body in Iran, appointed by Khamenei himself two years ago to identify his replacement, has accelerated its planning, according to news agency Reuters. Khamenei has gone into hiding with his family and is being guarded by the Vali-ye Amr special forces unit of the Revolutionary Guards, a top security official told sudden air assault on June 13 decimated the top echelon of Iran's military leadership and claimed the lives of several top nuclear scientists, marking one of the most significant escalations in the Middle East's history. Iran also retaliated with a barrage of missiles that, for the first time, managed to break through Israel's layered air defence systems in significant officials claimed the attacks left 627 people dead and nearly 5,000 injured on their soil. Independent verification of the damage, however, remains difficult due to strict curbs on media access. In Israel, authorities confirmed 28 fatalities.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Is he still in charge? Supreme leader's absence raises alarm in Iran
Hezbollah supporters carry photos of Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly in nearly a week. PHOTO: EPA Is he still in charge? Supreme leader's absence raises alarm in Iran TEHRAN – With the nation watching, the host on Iranian state television asked the question that so many people in Iran – from the political elite to people on the street – were wondering. 'People are very worried about the supreme leader,' the host said to an official from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's office on June 24. 'Can you tell us how he is?' He noted that viewers had sent a flood of messages asking the same thing. But the official, Mr Mehdi Fazaeli, the head of Ayatollah Khamenei's archives office, did not give a straight answer. Instead, Mr Fazaeli said he, too, had received numerous inquiries from officials and others worried about the ayatollah after the furious bombing campaign by Israel and the United States. 'We should all be praying,' Mr Fazaeli said. '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.' Ayatollah 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. In the past few days alone, the US bombed three of Iran's nuclear facilities, Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at a US base in Qatar, and Iran and Israel agreed to a ceasefire that went into effect Tuesday morning. Through it all, Ayatollah Khamenei – who officials say has been sheltering at a bunker and refraining from electronic communication to prevent assassination attempts against him – has remained absent, issuing no public statements or recorded messages. His absence has surprised and unnerved everyone from political insiders to the general public. Mr Mohsen Khalifeh, editor-in-chief of Khaneman, a daily newspaper focused on real-estate development, said in an interview that Ayatollah Khamenei's 'days-long absence has made all of us who love him very worried'. Acknowledging a possibility that two weeks ago would have seemed unthinkable, Mr Khalifeh added that if Ayatollah Khamenei were dead, his funeral procession would be 'the most glorious and historic'. As the supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei has the last word on all major state matters. As the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, he would be expected to approve any military decision as significant as the attack on the US base or the ceasefire deal with Israel. The ceasefire agreement, requested by US President Donald Trump and mediated by the emir of Qatar, appears to have been brokered swiftly. Yet, senior military commanders and government officials have been evasive about whether they have met or spoken with Ayatollah Khamenei in recent days. Uncertainties ahead His public silence has led to a flurry of speculation and doubt: How involved has Ayatollah Khamenei been in the most recent decisions, given the many potential difficulties or delays in reaching him? Is he still supervising the country on a daily basis? Is he injured, sick or even alive? Mr Hamzeh Safavi – a political analyst and son of General Yahya Safavi, a Revolutionary Guard commander and top military adviser to Ayatollah Khamenei – said Iran's security officials believed Israel might still try to assassinate Ayatollah Khamenei, even during a ceasefire. So, he said, they are enforcing extreme security protocols, including limited contact with the outside world. 'There is a pragmatic view taking hold for managing the country out of this crisis,' he said, by empowering other leaders, like President Masoud Pezeshkian. Still, Mr Safavi said he believed that Ayatollah Khamenei was weighing in on key decisions remotely. Even so, some of Ayatollah Khamenei's supporters are posting on social media and telling one another in text messages that they cannot feel Iran has been victorious in the war against Israel until they see or hear from the supreme leader. Four senior Iranian officials, familiar with current policy discussions in the government, said in Ayatollah Khamenei's absence, politicians and military commanders were forming alliances and vying for power. These factions have different visions of how Iran should move forward with its nuclear programme, its negotiations with the US and the standoff with Israel. The faction that appears to have the upper hand at the moment is pushing for moderation and diplomacy, the four officials said. It includes Mr Pezeshkian, who has publicly signalled his willingness to return to the bargaining table with the US even after Mr Trump bombed Iran's nuclear facilities. Mr Pezeshkian's allies include the head of the judiciary, Mr Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, who is close to the supreme leader, and the new commander of the armed forces, Major-General Abdolrahim Mousavi. The Iranian government is trying to ride the wave of nationalist fervour that has emerged in reaction to Israel's withering air strikes, which officials say have killed more than 600 people in Iran. Tehran's National Symphony performed at an outdoor concert in Azadi Square – a symbolic landmark named 'freedom' – in Tehran on June 24. A light show followed with pictures of emergency responders projected on the arch-like tower at the center of the square. Iran's plan for its damaged nuclear facilities remains a looming question. Both the foreign minister, Mr Abbas Araghchi, and the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, Mr Mohammad Eslami, have said in interviews with local news media that Iran will rebuild and revive its nuclear programme and continue enriching uranium. Mr Sanam Vakil, director for the Middle East and North Africa at Chatham House, a research group, said Ayatollah Khamenei's absence was notable and a sign that Iran's leaders were being 'extremely careful and security-minded'. 'If we don't see Ayatollah Khamenei by Ashura,' an important religious procession for Shi'ite Muslims observed in Iran in early July, Mr Vakil said, 'that is a bad sign. He has to show his face.' NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Where is Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?
With the nation watching, the host on Iranian state television asked the question that so many people in Iran — from the political elite to people on the street — were wondering. '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?' He noted that viewers had sent a flood of messages asking the same thing. But the official, Mehdi Fazaeli, the head of Khamenei's archives office, did not give a straight answer. Instead, Fazaeli said that he, too, had received numerous enquiries from officials and others worried about the ayatollah after the furious bombing campaign by Israel and the US. 'We should all be praying,' Fazaeli said. '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.' 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. In the past few days alone, the US bombed three of Iran's nuclear facilities, Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at a US base in Qatar, and Iran and Israel agreed to a ceasefire that went into effect Tuesday morning. Through it all, Khamenei — who officials say has been sheltering in a bunker and refraining from electronic communication to prevent assassination attempts against him — has remained absent, issuing no public statements or recorded messages. His absence has surprised and unnerved everyone from political insiders to the general public. Mohsen Khalifeh, the editor-in-chief of Khaneman, a daily newspaper focused on real-estate development, said in an interview that Khamenei's '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 Khamenei were dead, his funeral procession would be 'the most glorious and historic.' As the supreme leader, Khamenei has the last word on all major state matters. As the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, he would be expected to approve any military decision as significant as the attack on the US base or the ceasefire deal with Israel. The ceasefire agreement, requested by President Donald Trump and mediated by the emir of Qatar, appears to have been brokered swiftly. Yet senior military commanders and government officials have been evasive about whether they have met or spoken with Khamenei in recent days. His public silence has led to a flurry of speculation and doubt: how involved has Khamenei been in the most recent decisions, given the many potential difficulties or delays in reaching him? Is he still supervising the country on a daily basis? Is he injured, sick or even alive? Hamzeh Safavi — a political analyst and the son of Gen. Yahya Safavi, a Revolutionary Guard commander and top military adviser to Khamenei — said that Iran's security officials believed Israel might still try to assassinate Khamenei, even during a ceasefire. So, he said, they are enforcing extreme security protocols, including limited contact with the outside world. 'There is a pragmatic view taking hold for managing the country out of this crisis,' he said, by empowering other leaders, like President Masoud Pezeshkian. Still, Safavi said he believed that Khamenei was weighing in on key decisions remotely. Even so, some of Khamenei's supporters are posting on social media and telling one another in text messages that they cannot feel Iran has been victorious in the war against Israel until they see or hear from the supreme leader. Four senior Iranian officials, familiar with current policy discussions in the government, said that in Khamenei's absence, politicians and military commanders were forming alliances and vying for power. These factions have different visions of how Iran should move forward with its nuclear programme, its negotiations with the US and the standoff with Israel. The faction that appears to have the upper hand at the moment is pushing for moderation and diplomacy, the four officials said. It includes Pezeshkian, who has publicly signalled his willingness to return to the bargaining table with the US even after Trump bombed Iran's nuclear facilities. Pezeshkian's allies include the head of the judiciary, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, who is close to the supreme leader, and the new commander of the armed forces, Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi. The Iranian government is trying to ride the wave of nationalist fervour that has emerged in reaction to Israel's withering airstrikes, which officials say have killed more than 600 people in Iran. Tehran's National Symphony performed at an outdoor concert in Azadi Square — a symbolic landmark named 'freedom' — in Tehran on Tuesday. A light show followed with pictures of emergency responders projected on the arch-like tower at the centre of the square. Iran's plan for its damaged nuclear facilities remains a looming question. Both the foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, and the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, Mohammad Eslami, have said in interviews with local news media that Iran will rebuild and revive its nuclear programme and continue enriching uranium. Sanam Vakil, the director for the Middle East and North Africa at Chatham House, a research group, said that Khamenei's absence was notable and a sign that Iran's leaders were being 'extremely careful and security-minded.' 'If we don't see Khamenei by Ashura,' an important religious procession for Shiite Muslims observed in Iran in early July this year, Vakil said, 'that is a bad sign. He has to show his face.' This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
