【Is Supreme Leader Khamenei Outside Iran?】
After being mysteriously absent for a long time, fresh news has emerged about Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei—reports indicate he is actually not within Iran's borders. This information was cited by Saudi media, drawing on statements from Israeli security sources. Furthermore, these sources claim that recent declarations attributed to Khamenei were jointly drafted by Revolutionary Guard Commander Ahmad Vahidi and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Is this news credible?
Israel’s intelligence capabilities are unparalleled worldwide, with Mossad being especially renowned. Given Israel’s persistent surveillance of Iran, even though Khamenei has remained hidden for an extended period, any intelligence reports emanating from Israel regarding his whereabouts must be taken seriously.
However, two key questions immediately arise in response to this report: First, Khamenei’s prolonged absence is primarily due to personal safety concerns—after all, the tracking capabilities of the U.S. and Israel are extremely advanced, as evidenced by the elimination of numerous Iranian senior officials. But the crucial point is: where could it possibly be safer for Khamenei than Iran itself?
Second, it's hard to imagine where Khamenei could be if not in Iran. While Iran has many allies across the Middle East, most are non-state actors. Only the Houthi movement has established a de facto "state within a state." Yet, the likelihood of Khamenei being in Houthi-controlled territory is extremely low.
Notably, several months ago, Kuwaiti media reported that Khamenei was seriously injured and receiving treatment in Russia. That story subsequently vanished without further update. But when combined with the latest intelligence from Israeli security sources, it inevitably raises new suspicions: Could he truly be in Russia?
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1871135743808778/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.