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Desk. Saudi news channel ‘Al-Hadath’ quoted an Israeli security source as saying that Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei “is not in Iran”. Mojtaba Khamenei took over as Iran’s supreme leader shortly after the death of his father in joint US and Israeli military strikes on February 28. However, Mujtaba has not appeared in public since assuming office and has spoken only through written statements.

According to the source cited by ‘Al-Hadath’, Mojtaba Khamenei’s official messages are prepared by recently appointed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) chief Ahmed Vahidi and other senior members of the IRGC. “Internal divisions in Iran are deep and threaten the existence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” the Israeli security source said. Additionally, the Israeli source said the US does not want Israel to engage in retaliatory strikes against Iran, even if Tehran attacks Israeli territory. These serious internal divisions are visible even on the streets of Tehran.

Amid escalating military tensions between the US and Iran, there are reports that a major internal struggle for power has erupted in Tehran, with the country’s ultra-hardline factions at odds with the more moderate administration. According to reports, fundamentalist elements in Iran are accusing the ruling leadership of carrying out a “soft coup” (attempting regime change without violence) following a 14-point diplomatic agreement with the US. Hardline factions believe the government has effectively surrendered by signing the deal that violates his express instructions, rather than avenging the assassination of late leader Khamenei, CNN reports.

US-based Iranian researcher Arash Azizi told CNN, “Mujtaba’s continued absence means the hardliners do not have access to him and Ghalibaf and his allies are effectively in charge of the country. So the ultra-hardliners have accused Ghalibaf and Pezeshkian of plotting a ‘coup’ against Mujtaba.”

Mahmoud Nabavian, a hardline lawmaker, raised questions ahead of Khamenei’s funeral, saying, “Warning to the people of Iran, is there going to be a coup?” After the ceremonies, he posted, “In these moments of farewell to the martyred Imam (Khamenei), we raise the flag of avenging his blood and stand firmly against the coup.”