Maariv: The Iranian Supreme Leader died in an attack in central Tehran!
An Israeli security expert sparked widespread controversy after tweeting that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei may have been killed in a mysterious attack targeting prominent figures in the heart of the capital, Tehran, last Thursday evening.
According to Yair Ansbacher, an advisor to the Israeli security establishment and military expert, wrote on X, “I estimate that Khamenei died on Thursday evening at approximately 11:30 PM… There was an attack targeting high-ranking officials in the heart of Tehran, the results of which haven’t yet been revealed, but which was followed by suspicious movements, including camouflage operations and a widespread deployment of Basij forces… Since then, Khamenei hasn’t been seen in public, nor has his voice been heard”.
Ansbacher added that a speech scheduled for the Supreme Leader was suddenly canceled, and unusual discussions began circulating in Iranian circles about his health and the possibility of his removal from office.
He said sarcastically, “Even though these are the most dangerous days in Iran’s history since 1979, there’s no sign of him… As far as I’m concerned, he’s no longer with us… The ball is now in the Revolutionary Guard’s court to prove otherwise”.
In contrast, Iranian state media published a statement attributed to Khamenei on Monday evening, his first comment since the recent Iranian strikes targeting US bases in the Middle East, in response to the attack on Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordo.
The statement read, “We’ll not accept any attack from any side, and the provocations of others won’t subjugate us… This is the doctrine of the Iranian nation”.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was asked about the possibility of assassinating Khamenei.
He denied the existence of a current operational plan in this direction, but didn’t rule out the possibility of such an eventuality as a result of future developments.
According to US officials, Donald Trump had opposed an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei, stating that “the Iranians hadn’t yet killed Americans”.
This, according to one official, prompted him to halt any discussion of targeting the Iranian leadership at that stage.
