Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly retreated to an underground bunker and remains isolated even after the Israel-Iran war has ended.
The 86-year-old ruler has not appeared in public for nearly a week, sparking widespread speculations about his fate and condition.
On Thursday, Khamenei broke his silence with a defiant video message, his first since the US attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities. The aging leader declared victory over Israel and the US, downplaying the damage from recent attacks and claiming that Iran “delivered a hard slap to America’s face.”
However, the absence of clear timestamps in the video fueled speculation about its recency, as Khamenei’s prolonged seclusion continues to raise questions about his health and leadership capacity.
Earlier, a New York Times report indicated that Khamenei suspended all electronic communications, relying solely on handwritten messages delivered by trusted aides to evade assassination attempts, amid fears of Israeli infiltration within Iran’s security apparatus.
Rumors have circulated about Khamenei’s deteriorating physical and mental condition, with unverified reports suggesting that he is no longer making key decisions, as other senior officials take charge.
These claims remain unconfirmed, but they reflect mounting uncertainty at the top of Iran’s power structure.
