Iran embassy rejects rumors of Supreme Leader Khamenei’s death
October 16th, 2009 - 6:05 pm ICT by ANIYerevan (Armenia), Oct.16 (ANI): The Iranian Embassy here has vigorously denied rumors of that country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei falling into a coma and dying this week, Fox News has quoted an Armenian news site as reporting.
The embassy’s reaction is possibly the first official response to rumors that have been swirling around the Internet and appear to be fraying nerves in Tehran.
Iran watcher Michael Ledeen reported on his blog Tuesday that an “excellent source” assured him that the 70-year-old Khamenei “collapsed and was taken to a special clinic” Monday afternoon.
The Supreme Leader’s health was said to have declined due to the strains of the popular resistance to Iran’s contested national elections.
Ledeen, a scholar at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said a bulletin from the reformist opposition to Khamenei’s regime reported “widespread rumors in the Tehran Bazaar that Khamenei has died,” and described an “abnormal atmosphere” in the streets of Iran’s capital, possibly implying an increased security presence.
Khamenei has had health problems in the past, and was erroneously reported by Ledeen to have died in January 2007. Ledeen wrote this week that his current source “is in a position to know” about Khamenei’s health. (ANI)
- Is Iran President Ahmadinejad about to resign over row with Khamenei? - Apr 30, 2011
- Sanctions benefited Iran, says Khamenei - Feb 03, 2012
- Iran not pursuing n-arms, says Khamenei - Feb 22, 2012
- Plot to kill Iran's supreme leader unearthed - Dec 11, 2011
- Iran to invest $571 mn in Armenia - Dec 27, 2011
- Khamenei supercedes Ahmadinejad over minister's resignation (Lead) - Apr 18, 2011
- Iranian supreme leader pardons over 1,200 prisoners - Aug 29, 2011
- Khamenei: Dead or Alive? - Oct 15, 2009
- Iran to disclose documents on US as 'terrorism sponsor' - Nov 03, 2011
- WikiLeaks reveals Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has terminal cancer - Nov 30, 2010
- Khamenei rebuffs Ahmadinejad on official's dismissal - Apr 21, 2011
- Khamenei orders institute to control cyberspace - Mar 08, 2012
- Obama's secret message: Iran can have civilian n-programme - Apr 07, 2012
- IAEA inspectors barred from Iranian military site (Lead) - Feb 22, 2012
- Iran to 'powerfully' respond to a US attack - Nov 10, 2011
Tags: ali khamenei, armenian news, ayatollah ali khamenei, current source, foundation for defense of democracies, fox news, health problems, iran embassy, iranian embassy, michael ledeen, monday afternoon, national elections, nerves, news site, scholar, security presence, strains, supreme leader ayatollah, tehran bazaar, tehran iran