Israel says it knows the location of Iran’s new Supreme Leader after Trump claimed he may be dead

Tensions in the Middle East continue to rise after Israeli officials issued a warning to Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, stating that they are fully aware of his location. The statement came shortly after former United States President Donald Trump publicly suggested that the Iranian leader might no longer be alive.

Reports indicate that Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed leadership following the death of his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was injured during joint United States and Israeli airstrikes earlier in the conflict. Since the beginning of the war, he has not appeared in public, leading to widespread speculation about his health condition and even rumors of his death.

Iranian state television attempted to calm the situation last week by broadcasting a written message said to be from Mojtaba Khamenei. The announcement was intended to dismiss claims that he had been killed during the same attack that reportedly led to the assassination of his father. However, the fact that he did not appear on screen has only increased doubts and fueled more theories.

During a weekend interview with NBC News, Donald Trump added to the uncertainty by saying he was not sure whether the Iranian leader was still alive. According to him, there were unconfirmed reports suggesting that Mojtaba Khamenei had died, while other sources claimed he might be severely wounded. Trump also stated that if the leader is still alive, he should make a decision that would benefit his country, hinting at the possibility of surrender.

Soon after those remarks, an Israeli security official delivered a brief but direct response, saying that Israel knows exactly where the Iranian leader is located. The official did not provide further details but warned against believing every report coming from Iranian sources.

At the same time, various unofficial Iranian accounts have circulated conspiracy claims suggesting that the 56-year-old leader was secretly moved out of the country to Russia for medical treatment. According to those rumors, the transfer was carried out under orders from Russian President Vladimir Putin, and he is allegedly recovering in a private medical facility in Moscow. None of these claims have been independently verified.

In another wave of misinformation, some reports falsely claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had died from a heart attack. Israeli authorities quickly dismissed the story, and Netanyahu later appeared in a video message to supporters, calmly drinking coffee while joking about the rumor.

The conflict entered its third week with growing uncertainty about the leadership situation in Iran. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told The New Arab in an interview that the country’s leader remains in good health and continues to control national decisions. He insisted that the government structure is functioning normally despite the ongoing war.

Security analyst Professor Anthony Glees explained that misinformation often becomes a powerful weapon during wartime. According to him, the absence of a public appearance by Mojtaba Khamenei naturally creates suspicion. He noted that showing the leader alive would be the easiest way for Iran to prove stability and strengthen morale, yet this has not happened.

Glees also said that while rumors of collapse are spreading, there is still no clear evidence proving that the Iranian government is close to falling apart. He emphasized that both sides in the conflict are likely using psychological tactics to confuse opponents and control public perception.

Avner Vilan, a former senior Israeli security official with expertise in Iranian affairs, shared a similar view. He explained that the exact condition and location of the Iranian leader could be considered valuable strategic information. Because of that, neither Israel nor Iran would want to reveal the truth too quickly, and both sides may release misleading statements to gain advantage.

He also pointed out that Iran confirmed the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei relatively quickly, but has remained silent about his son. According to him, it would be unlikely for Iran to appoint a new Supreme Leader if that person had already died, because eventually the government would have to admit losing both leaders during the same conflict, which could damage its image of strength.

Military analysts also noted that Israel has previously taken time before confirming the deaths of high-profile enemies. For example, it took weeks before officials publicly confirmed the killing of Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif in 2024. Deif had survived multiple assassination attempts over the years and was known for repeatedly escaping attacks, which made confirmation difficult.

A similar situation occurred after the killing of Yahya Sinwar in Gaza later the same year. Even after images of his body circulated online, Israeli forces conducted DNA testing before officially announcing his death to avoid any mistake.

Recently, Israeli authorities released images showing several Iranian military and intelligence leaders who were reportedly eliminated during the first day of the war. The images included senior commanders and defense officials, with each photo marked to indicate that the individual had been killed during the strikes.

Despite the ongoing information battle, officials on both sides continue to make statements designed to influence public opinion. Analysts believe that until clear visual proof is shown, speculation about the condition of Iran’s new Supreme Leader will likely continue to spread across international media.