There are lots of reports that the newly-elected Supreme Leader of Iran is already dead, hours after he was appointed by the Assembly of Experts.
I don’t know about that. We are deep into the fog of war, and it would be pretty remarkable for the Israelis to take him out so quickly, although remarkable is what the Israelis seem to do on a daily basis.
But all this speculation about his being killed since his “election” leads me to ask: are we sure he was alive at the time he was elected?
In the official “allegiance ceremony to Mojtaba Khamenei”, they could bring only a cardboard version of him 🤣pic.twitter.com/Hb7MCyAchj
— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) March 9, 2026
Even the Iranians admitted that he was injured in the strike that killed his father, the former Supreme Leader, and as far as I can tell, he has not been seen since that initial attack.
Iran did release information subsequent to his election, again saying he was wounded in an attack, but it’s not clear if the wounding happened pre- or post-election. Was this a second time, or merely a reference to the original injury?
🚨 Iran’s New Supreme Leader Reportedly Wounded
Iranian state TV, while announcing the rise of Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader, described him as “janbaz” — wounded by the enemy in what Iranian media are calling the “Ramadan War.”
No details were given about the injury. pic.twitter.com/5b8imtegeL
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) March 9, 2026
There are also rumors that Khamenei lost a leg, is unconscious, or that he succumbed to his wounds since his original injuries.
Who knows? We haven’t heard directly from him, and there ARE reasons why the Iranians might want to elect a dead man as their Supreme Leader.
Important possible scenario:
There is a chance that Mojtaba is in fact dead, and that the regime deliberately selected a dead man as SL.
Why would they do that? In the hopes that israel goes looking for a ghost while ignoring the real decision makers. A distraction.
His… pic.twitter.com/BlT9sDGKPo
— 𝐍𝐢𝐨𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐠 🇮🇷 ✡︎ (@NiohBerg) March 9, 2026
Important possible scenario:
There is a chance that Mojtaba is in fact dead, and that the regime deliberately selected a dead man as SL.
Why would they do that? In the hopes that israel goes looking for a ghost while ignoring the real decision makers. A distraction.
His “injury” also excuses the regime from bringing him out in public. Of course he may well be alive, but never underestimate these insane mullahs and their desperation.
As we saw over the weekend, not only has command and control broken down in Iran, but there is a massive split between the IRGC and the temporary ruling council. One moment, the president apologizes for attacking Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the next missiles and drones rain down on those same countries, and the IRGC renounces the president’s statement.
I HAVE A THEORY:
Mojtaba Khamenei, Ali’s son and the new supreme leader IS ALREADY DEAD and died in the same strike that killed his father!
How do you choose a supreme leader who cannot be killed? You pick one who is ALREADY DEAD!
Here’s the shocking part: No one has seen… pic.twitter.com/5hRkBKlPss
— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) March 9, 2026
Mojtaba Khamenei, Ali’s son and the new supreme leader IS ALREADY DEAD and died in the same strike that killed his father!
How do you choose a supreme leader who cannot be killed? You pick one who is ALREADY DEAD!
Here’s the shocking part: No one has seen Mojtaba Khamenei publicly since the war began.
Obviously, this is just speculation on my part, but it is very strange that no one has seen this guy and these supreme leaders tend to be very visible.
One great way to displace the ruling council is to replace them with a Supreme Leader, and who better than one who doesn’t actually exist?
Think of it as the autopen version of a Supreme Leader, kinda like the Joe Biden regency, only moreso. A dead or unconscious Supreme Leader serves the interests of the IRGC just fine, and they have the guns to make it stick.
Iran’s new Supreme Leader ‘is wounded’: Ayatollah Khamenei’s son sustained mystery injury, claims state TV https://t.co/EczF1xBZyC
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) March 9, 2026
There is all sorts of talk about Khamenei’s being a hard-liner, but frankly, I don’t think that it matters right now who is nominally the Supreme Leader. The IRGC wants to fight to the death, and I doubt any Supreme Leader could persuade them to put down their arms.
Love some of the Iranian rumors out there. That actually Mojtaba is dead or severely wounded, in a coma or lost a leg. At some point soon, they’ll have to produce a new video of him alive and well or the speculation will increase. https://t.co/g2lAZ0UPK8
— Alberto Miguel Fernandez (@AlbertoMiguelF5) March 9, 2026
Or rather, I don’t think they could persuade the people at the top of the IRGC to do so. Khamenei is useful as a religious figurehead to keep the lower ranks in line longer than they would otherwise, but no absent leader giving written statements could get an order out to surrender.
Until we see proof of life, and Khamenei actually ordering somebody to do something, whether he is alive or dead means little to the course of the war.
Perhaps he is dead, or mostly dead. Perhaps he just has a flesh wound.
Editor’s note: If we thought our job in pushing back against the Academia/media/Democrat censorship complex was over with the election, think again. This is going to be a long fight. If you want to join the conversation in the comments — and support independent platforms — why not join our VIP Membership program? Choose VIP to support Hot Air and access our premium content, VIP Gold to extend your access to all Townhall Media platforms and participate in this show, or VIP Platinum to get access to even more content and discounts on merchandise. Use the promo code FIGHT to join or to upgrade your existing membership level today, and get 60% off!
