Iran supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei reportedly removed from decision making after mental health breakdown

Ayatollah Khamenei reportedly removed from key decisions after mental health decline amid Israel-Iran conflict- Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly been sidelined from major national security decisions following a serious decline in his mental health. This development comes in the wake of escalating military tensions between Iran and Israel, as reported by opposition news outlet Iran International.

At 86 years old, Khamenei is said to have suffered a nervous breakdown after a series of Israeli airstrikes killed several high-ranking members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Since then, top officials within Iran’s military and intelligence community have allegedly begun excluding him from the country’s most critical decision-making processes.

Why has Khamenei’s role in Iran’s leadership reportedly diminished?

According to Iran International, signs of mental decline in Ayatollah Khamenei started surfacing after Israel assassinated some of his most trusted military commanders. The loss reportedly triggered a severe emotional and psychological response. Sources told the outlet that Khamenei was not only deeply affected but also became unfit to lead the nation through this high-stakes conflict.


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As the war escalated, insiders claim that members of the Supreme National Security Council and senior military commanders made a joint decision to gradually remove Khamenei from daily strategic planning, especially in national security matters.

Was Khamenei moved to a bunker after Israel’s strikes on Tehran?

Yes. Just hours after Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran last Friday, Iranian officials reportedly relocated Khamenei to a secure underground bunker in Lavizan, a neighborhood northeast of the capital. Two sources inside Iran confirmed this to Iran International, noting that the supreme leader’s entire immediate family, including his influential son Mojtaba Khamenei, joined him in the shelter.

This isn’t the first time such a move has been made. The same protocol was followed during the Iranian offensives called “True Promise 1” and “True Promise 2,” which were launched in retaliation against Israel earlier this year.

What triggered this mental health crisis for Khamenei?

The timeline of events points to April 13, 2024, when Iran carried out its first-ever direct attack on Israeli territory. That operation, named “True Promise 1,” involved the launch of over 300 drones and missiles targeting Israeli cities. It was a retaliatory move after top Iranian commanders were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Damascus.

Following that attack, Israel responded with counter-strikes on Iranian soil, including critical hits on IRGC positions. Several of Khamenei’s closest allies within the Guard were killed in these operations. Sources close to Iran International suggest that these losses deeply shook the supreme leader, both emotionally and mentally.

Who is making the decisions in Iran now?

With Khamenei reportedly sidelined, real power appears to have shifted to Iran’s military and intelligence leadership. Commanders within the IRGC and the Supreme National Security Council are now believed to be handling high-level strategies, including responses to Israeli aggression and internal security measures.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader’s son and likely successor, is also said to be closely involved in overseeing decisions. Although Iran’s government has made no official comment, analysts say the growing silence around Khamenei’s condition adds weight to these claims.

What does this mean for Iran's political future?

If these reports hold true, Ayatollah Khamenei’s weakening grip on power could open the door to a significant shift in Iran’s leadership structure. It also raises questions about who will eventually succeed him, especially if his condition does not improve.

Iran is facing not just external military threats, but also domestic pressures. The potential power vacuum at the top of Iran’s political system may influence how the country responds to ongoing regional instability and internal unrest. All eyes are now on Mojtaba Khamenei and the IRGC leadership, as they steer the country through what may be its most fragile moment in decades.

FAQs:

Q1. Why was Ayatollah Khamenei removed from Iran’s key decisions?
Due to mental health decline after Israel-Iran conflict escalated, as per Iran International.

Q2. Where is Ayatollah Khamenei now after Israeli airstrikes?
He is reportedly in a secure bunker in Lavizan, Tehran with close family.