Iran's Supreme Leader Sends Condolences Amid Public Absence
Translated & summarized from Channel 9 by baba
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a written condolence message on September 25 for the death of a lawmaker, marking his latest public communication amid a prolonged absence. Khamenei has not appeared publicly since the start of the war, leading to speculation about his health and the nickname "cardboard ayatollah." The regime continues to release his statements on paper, with his last message on September 28 asserting Iran's global power and mentioning the "axis of resistance." Tehran has not commented on his condition or absence, fueling rumors of his potential demise.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a written condolence message on September 25.
- Khamenei has not appeared publicly since the start of the war, fueling rumors.
- Social media users have nicknamed him the "cardboard ayatollah" due to his absence.
- His last message on September 28 declared Iran a "world power."
- Ahmad Nategh-Nouri, the subject of the condolence, was 89 and a former lawmaker.
- Tehran has not commented on Khamenei's health or absence.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has issued another written message, this time offering condolences on the death of Ahmad Nategh-Nouri, a member of the Majlis and former head of the Iran Boxing Federation, who passed away on September 25 at the age of 89 after a long illness. Khamenei extended sympathies to Nategh-Nouri's brother, former Parliament Speaker Ali Akbar Nategh-Nouri, and his family. The message, which focuses on personal loss rather than politics or the conflict with the U.S. and Israel, has drawn attention due to Khamenei's prolonged public absence. He has not appeared in public or been seen in any videos or heard in any audio recordings since the start of the war. This has led to the nickname "cardboard ayatollah" circulating on social media, with critics suggesting his existence is taken on faith. The Iranian regime is reportedly attempting to project an image of his active involvement by regularly releasing his statements on paper. Khamenei's last public message before the condolences was on September 28, in which he declared Iran a "world power" with "over 30 million Iranians ready to sacrifice themselves for the Islamic Republic." That statement also referenced the "axis of resistance" and commemorated the second anniversary of the death of Hassan Nasrallah, former Secretary-General of Hezbollah, calling him a "heroic emir of the Arabs." Official Tehran has not commented on Khamenei's health or provided explanations for his extended absence from public view, fueling rumors of serious injury or even death.
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