Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly 'unconscious', receiving treatment, unable to govern Iran

• Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is reportedly unconscious and receiving treatment in Qom, unable to govern, according to intelligence cited by The Times.

Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is reportedly unconscious and receiving treatment for a “severe” medical condition in the holy city of Qom, according to an intelligence assessment cited by The Times.

The assessment suggests he is currently unable to make decisions or govern the country.

The diplomatic memo, understood to be based on U.S. and 'Israeli' intelligence and shared with Gulf allies, marks the first public disclosure of Mojtaba Khamenei’s location since he was believed wounded in the opening strikes of February 28, which killed his father, former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, as well as his mother, wife, and one son.

“Mojtaba Khamenei is being treated in Qom in a severe condition, unable to be involved in any decision-making by the regime,” the memo reads.

The assessment also highlights preparations for Ali Khamenei’s burial in Qom, the religious capital of Shia Islam. Officials are reportedly laying groundwork for a large mausoleum for “more than one grave,” possibly including other family members or Mojtaba himself, according to the document.

Despite Iranian state media releasing statements and AI-generated videos showing Mojtaba Khamenei “in charge,” the lack of direct recordings of his voice and ongoing reports of serious injury have fueled speculation over his actual capacity to lead. Opposition groups have claimed he is in a coma, while others suggest he suffered broken bones and facial injuries.

The situation has raised questions over who effectively controls Iran, with analysts speculating that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) may retain de facto authority while Mojtaba Khamenei remains incapacitated.

U.S. officials, including President Trump, have reportedly engaged with other Iranian figures but have stated they are not negotiating directly with the supreme leader.

Ali Khamenei’s funeral

Ali Khamenei’s funeral arrangements have also drawn attention, with reports suggesting Qom may serve as a temporary resting place due to security concerns. The traditional 40-day mourning period in Shia Islam is approaching, yet a public ceremony in Tehran has not been confirmed. Officials reportedly hope to avoid the kind of chaos that surrounded the burial of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989, when millions attended and the ceremony was disrupted.

The diplomatic memo also notes that just prior to the outbreak of war, the IRGC clashed with Mojahedin-e-Khalq fighters who attempted an armed takeover of the Motahari Complex, which houses Khamenei’s offices and other key institutional pillars of the regime.

The intelligence assessment underscores the uncertainty surrounding Iran’s leadership amid ongoing regional conflict and indicates that Mojtaba Khamenei’s incapacitation could have significant implications for the country’s governance and stability.