Where’s Khamenei? Speculation swirls over Supreme Leader’s whereabouts

Larijani’s direct flight from Doha to Mashhad, bypassing the capital, was described as highly unusual.

By World Israel News Staff

The recent public absence of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has fueled mounting speculation among opposition figures and political observers about his whereabouts, and whether security concerns may be behind it.

Khamenei was notably absent from nationwide events marking the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, where he did not appear publicly and no prerecorded address or official statement was released in his name.

He also failed to attend the annual Iranian Air Force ceremony on Sunday after reportedly canceling his planned appearance at the last minute.

Since assuming power in 1989 following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Khamenei has consistently attended the February swearing-in ceremony of air force commanders, making this year’s absence particularly striking.

According to a report by Israel’s Channel 12 News, growing attention has now focused on the northeastern city of Mashhad.

The report cited flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 showing that Ali Larijani, Khamenei’s senior adviser and secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, flew Tuesday from Qatar directly to Mashhad instead of returning to Tehran.

Larijani had just completed diplomatic meetings in Oman and Qatar, two countries that have played central roles as intermediaries between Iran and the United States.

His direct flight from Doha to Mashhad, bypassing the capital, was described as unusual and has fueled theories that Khamenei himself may currently be in the city, possibly in a secure location.

Mashhad carries deep personal and symbolic importance for the Supreme Leader. It is his birthplace and where he was raised and educated, and it is considered one of the holiest and most significant cities in Iran.

The report comes amid heightened regional tensions and continued discussion of a potential U.S. military strike on Iran, though there has been no official confirmation regarding Khamenei’s location.