Israeli right-wing activist moots bizarre theory on Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei: 'His speech mysteriously cancelled'

Amid reports that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is hiding in a bunker, a right-wing activist in Israel has mooted a bizarre theory about the Ayatollah, stating he has been killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Yair Ansbacher, who also claims to be a military expert, took to X on Tuesday to claim that Khamenei has been dead since last Thursday night, around 11:30 pm. 

"There was an attack on senior officials in the heart of Tehran which has not been disclosed. It led to several cover-up actions and the deployment of paramilitary Basij forces. Since then, to the best of my understanding, he has not been seen or heard," Ansabacher said. 

He also questioned the cancellation of the Supreme Leader's speech. "His speech was mysteriously cancelled and rumours began to do rounds about his removal from office, his weakness, and his poor health," he said, adding that posting on X won't count as a signal for being alive.  

A post from Khamenei's X account had appeared after the Iranian attack on the US base, which read: "Anyone who knows the Iranian people and their history knows that the Iranian nation is not a nation that surrenders".

Ansabacher also challenged the Islamic Republic Revolutionary Guards to prove him wrong.  

His statements come amid reports that the process to select the successor to Khamenei is already on in the wake of Israel threatening to assassinate him. The Supreme Leader has reportedly mooted three names, none of which is his son Mojtaba. However, Khamenei is not interested in passing on the mantle to his son as it would the appearance of the power being passed from father to son, similar to monarchical regimes. 

Meanwhile, there are also reports that "Khamenei is in a difficult mental state" as everyone who worked with him is dead. "He has a hard time with the replacements," according to an Israeli source.

Middle East