Is Khamenei dead or just missing? And who is posting on his X account?
Iran is in upheaval amid unverified reports that Supreme Leader Khamenei is missing or dead. With the clergy sidelined and military factions battling for control, whispers of regime collapse are growing louder across the country.
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Khamenei Claims Victory Over Israel and U.S. in First Post-War Statement
In his first public statement since the recent ceasefire, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared a decisive victory over Israel and the United States in a televised address. Khamenei claimed the U.S. intervened directly in the conflict to prevent the “annihilation” of Israel, asserting that Iran delivered a “hard slap” to Washington, which he said “achieved nothing” in the war.
The remarks, posted on his official account (@khamenei_ir), congratulated Iran for triumphing over the “fallacious Zionist regime” during Operation Rising Lion.
In his first public remarks since the Iran-Israel ceasefire, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a defiant recorded response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand for Iranian surrender, calling it “too much to ask.” He accused Trump of exposing America’s true intentions, saying the U.S. would only be satisfied with Iran’s complete capitulation. He vowed that Iran “will never surrender” and warned Israel that attacking the Islamic Republic “comes at a heavy price”, a lesson he claimed the “Zionist regime” has now learned.
He also downplayed the impact of U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, acknowledging damage but claiming Washington “failed to achieve much.”
Despite Tehran’s narrative of resilience, reports indicate significant Iranian casualties, widespread infrastructure damage, and the loss of senior IRGC officials. Khamenei has not been seen publicly since the conflict ended, raising questions about his whereabouts.
Iran is gripped by uncertainty as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been reportedly missing for a week, fueling speculation of his death or incapacitation, according to unverified reports circulating within the country. Sources cited by cardiologist and commentator Afshine Emrani (@afshineemrani) claim Khamenei and his son are either deceased or unable to lead, sparking a fierce power struggle among Iran’s military, hardline factions, and reformists.
Unfortunately, these reports seem to be untrue, as he has just released a video statament (unless it was pre-recorded, which is not impossible).
Reports suggest the Iranian military and Sepah have sidelined the clergy, taking control of key operations. A backchannel has allegedly opened between Iranian military commanders, Reza Pahlavi, and the Trump administration, with the recent ceasefire reportedly negotiated without Khamenei’s involvement. Four senior insiders claim intense infighting is fracturing the Islamic Republic’s leadership.
State media has fueled public concern, with one anchor openly questioning Khamenei’s whereabouts, asking, “Where is the Supreme Leader? The people are worried.” The official response—that Khamenei is in a “secure bunker without electronic communication”—has done little to quell speculation. Whispers of dissent are growing on the streets, and the military appears to be charting its own course, raising questions about the future of the regime.
Freedom, some say, may be closer than ever.