Tehran, July 19 (ANI): Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei “is not in Iran,” according to an Israeli security source cited by Saudi news outlet Al-Hadath.
Khamenei, who assumed the position of Iran’s supreme leader shortly after his father was killed in joint US-Israeli military strikes on February 28, has not made any public appearances and has communicated exclusively through written statements since taking office.
According to the source cited by Al-Hadath, Khamenei’s official messages are authored by newly appointed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) chief Ahmad Vahidi along with other senior IRGC officials.
“Iran’s internal divisions are deep and threaten the existence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” the Israeli security source was quoted as saying.
The source also claimed that the United States does not want Israel to participate in retaliatory strikes against Iran, even if Tehran launches attacks on Israeli territory.
The claims come amid reports of growing internal political divisions in Iran as military tensions with the United States continue.
According to a CNN report, hardline factions in Iran have accused the country’s leadership of carrying out a “soft coup” following the conclusion of a 14-point diplomatic agreement with the United States.
The political tensions reportedly spilled into the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led ceasefire negotiations with the Trump administration, was reportedly forced to leave the funeral procession with his team after being targeted with rocks by angry mourners.
Crowds reportedly shouted slogans including “death to the compromiser” and accused senior officials of being “traitorous sellouts” in protest against the diplomatic agreement.
CNN reported that hardline factions believe the government effectively surrendered by signing an accord they claim violated the directives of current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei instead of retaliating for his father’s killing.
Hardline groups have also accused the visible leadership managing state affairs during Khamenei’s absence of attempting to centralise power by sidelining Parliament.
“Warning to the people of Iran: Is a coup on the way?” hardline lawmaker Mahmoud Nabavian wrote on X days before the funeral.
Following the ceremonies, he posted: “In these moments of farewell to the martyred Imam (Khamenei), we raise the banner of vengeance for his blood and stand firm against the coup.”
With Mojtaba Khamenei remaining out of public view, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have emerged as the most visible leaders managing post-war Iran, a development that has reportedly intensified resentment among ultra-hardline factions.
“Mojtaba’s continued absence means that they don’t have access to him and also that Ghalibaf and allies are effectively in charge of the country… the ultra-hardliners have thus accused Ghalibaf and Pezeshkian of plotting a ‘coup’ against Mojtaba,” US-based Iran researcher Arash Azizi told CNN.
Hardline factions have used the funeral ceremonies to call for military retaliation against the United States and reject any diplomatic agreement reached with the Trump administration.
They have also accused the country’s current leadership of weakening traditional state institutions to consolidate authority.
“They are trying to elevate the role of the Supreme Council for National Security while diminishing the role of the supreme leader and parliament,” hardline parliamentarian Kamran Ghazanfari said in a video address earlier this month, referring to the body overseeing wartime operations.
“This is the political coup they have designed and are carrying out step by step.”
As military tensions with the United States continue, Iran also faces mounting internal political divisions and challenges to maintaining domestic cohesion. (ANI)
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