IRGC Dictates Iran's New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's First Message, Fueling Rumors About His Condition

Iran’s new supreme leader did not appear in person to deliver his first public statement; instead the message was attributed to him and read aloud by a state TV presenter, a move that many outlets link to IRGC control of the text and has fuelled intense speculation about his physical condition and whereabouts.

“Iran’s new supreme leader did not appear in person to give his first statement Thursday, fuelling speculation that he was injured more seriously than Iranian officials have acknowledged”

CBC

CBC reported that “Iran’s new supreme leader did not appear in person to give his first statement Thursday, fuelling speculation that he was injured more seriously than Iranian officials have acknowledged,” and that the message was “in a defiant statement attributed to him and read by a state TV presenter.”

CBC

The Jerusalem Post said that “after the message was released, it was drafted by the IRGC and later rewritten in Mojtaba Khamenei’s style,” while The Economic Times noted wide circulation of claims that “he lost at least one leg and suffered internal injuries and may be in a coma,” claims which Iranian officials have denied.

The absence of any new photographs or an in-person appearance has intensified rumours about Mojtaba Khamenei’s health, with some analysts saying the silence undermines the government’s credibility and raises questions about who is effectively in charge.

CBC noted that “No images of Khamenei have been released since an Israeli strike at the start of the war killed several members of his family,” and quoted experts saying “The longer that he doesn't make a public appearance on camera, the more rumors are going to circulate about the breadth and depth of his injuries.”

The Economic Times

The Economic Times observed that “independent confirmation of amputation claims has not been provided,” and The Jerusalem Post reported that “Many senior officials have not seen him in person, and it is reported that he is being treated and kept in an underground safe place outside Tehran.”

Conflicting accounts surround the scale of Mojtaba Khamenei’s injuries: some media and opposition sources allege severe wounds, including amputation and coma, while Tehran officials insist injuries were minor and he remains in his role.

“On Thursday afternoon, four days after being selected as the new leader of the Islamic Republic, Mojtaba Khamenei issued his first written statement following a prolonged and conspicuous absence”

The Jerusalem Post

The Economic Times summarised that “Some media reports and sources alleged that he lost at least one leg and suffered internal injuries and may be in a coma,” while the Jerusalem Post relayed that the IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency described the new “supreme leader” as having “become a janbaaz , a term used specifically to denote a person who has suffered severe physical injury, such as the loss of a limb.”

By contrast, CBC noted that “Iranian officials have said the hardline cleric was “lightly” injured on his face and foot” and emphasised that rumours of coma or death “remain unverified.”

Observers and analysts cited in the coverage warned that if the leader could not personally deliver statements it would signal a deeper shift in power toward security institutions, and that the IRGC’s hands-on role in messaging underscores that dynamic.

CBC quoted Georgetown’s Nader Hashemi asking, “If he's been severely injured, then who issued this statement today? If he was unable to issue it, does that suggest that there are other forces that are really running this state, and it's not the supreme leader who is in charge?”

CBC

The Jerusalem Post’s reporting that the message was drafted by the IRGC and rewritten in the leader’s style supports concerns about institutional control, while The Economic Times highlighted the spread of unverified reports and the Iranian government’s denials as part of the contested information environment.

Coverage also recorded signs of heightened domestic unrest and polarized reactions in Tehran, with social-media mockery, rooftop chants and reports of security forces firing on celebrants, illustrating how the leadership transition has inflamed tensions.

“Has Iran's new Supreme Leader lost one leg, and is Mojtaba Khamenei in coma”

The Economic Times

The Jerusalem Post reported that “social media users have mocked the new leader through AI-generated content” and that “residents in various parts of the capital took to their rooftops, chanting "Death to Mojtaba."”

The Economic Times

It also said “the Basij and IRGC have dramatically intensified their use of live fire, with at least several people killed in Tehran.”

CBC added that some commentators suggest “it’s also possible Khamenei is simply in hiding,” while The Economic Times noted that claims about coma and severe injury “remain unverified.”