Suspense continues in Iran: State television says Ayatollah Ali Khamenei healthy

NEW DELHI: International community is agog with health of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei amid reports of his deteriorating condition even as the country’s state television released pictures of the 75-year-old leader holding meetings on Sunday.

Foreign-based news websites in recent days have claimed that Khamenei, who has the final word on all matters in Iran, had been hospitalised in critical condition. Some even reported on Sunday that he may have passed away after a reign of 25 years.

Diplomatic sources indicated to ET that the reason why Tehran may not want to discuss Khamenei’s health in public is that there could be an intense power struggle as to who would succeed Khamenei. Iran’s Guardian Council comprising lawyers and clergy chooses the Supreme leader. There are some reports that former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani could be one of the frontrunners for the post.

There are reports that Khamenei is suffering from prostate cancer that has reportedly spread to the rest of his body. In September, Khamenei underwent prostate surgery and spent about a week in the hospital before being released.

“The cancer is in stage four, in other words has spread.” Doctors estimate “he has two years left to live.” Interestingly reports about Khamenei’s health are surfacing when Iran is involved in critical talks with the USA over future of its nuclear program. Khamenei's health is given significant attention because it may affect the process of talks for a final nuclear accord.

Khamenei has backed Iran's negotiators publicly in the talks, but also has set his own requirements for what he wants out of any deal.