A recent post on a social media account linked to the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, alleges that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, spends his days sleeping and using substances. This claim emerged shortly after a 12-day conflict in the region, raising eyebrows and questions about Khamenei’s ability to lead. The post, which appeared on a newly launched Farsi-language account, provocatively questioned, “How can a leader lead when they sleep half the day and spend the other half high on substances?”
The account, which purports to be the official Farsi spokesperson for Mossad, has gained attention for its unusual approach towards communicating with the Iranian public. This account has regularly posted content that mocks the Iranian regime, marking a departure from typical Mossad communications. One post stated, “Using drugs and speaking to spirits are not appropriate traits for someone leading a nation.”
Experts have assessed the authenticity of this social media presence. Zvi Yehezkeli, a prominent Arab affairs commentator for i24News, described the account as a “new battlefield tool,” suggesting that Iranian citizens are increasingly disillusioned with their government. Beny Sabti, an Iran specialist at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, supported this assessment, stating that some of the information shared by the account could only have originated from Mossad.
Allegations regarding Khamenei’s drug use are not new. In a 2022 television interview on a network associated with the Muslim Brotherhood in Turkey, an Iranian academic claimed that Khamenei frequently uses drugs. According to Nour Mohamed Omara, the Supreme Leader allegedly has a designated village in Balochistan where drugs are produced, overseen by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Omara stated, “Many viewers do not know this, but Khamenei himself uses drugs.”
Ironically, Khamenei has publicly condemned drug use, especially opium, as “un-Islamic” since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The Islamic Republic has strict penalties for drug-related offenses, including the death penalty.
While the allegations raised by the Mossad-linked account have generated considerable discourse, the agency has not officially confirmed nor denied these claims regarding Khamenei’s substance use or the operation of the social media account. The situation underscores the complex and often contentious relationship between Iran and Israel, with intelligence warfare increasingly shifting to digital platforms.
