Claims of Substance Use by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ignite Controversy
A recent post from a social media account linked to the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, has ignited controversy by alleging that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, spends his days “snoozing” and using drugs. The claims, made by a newly launched premium account on the platform formerly known as Twitter, question Khamenei’s ability to lead the nation while reportedly engaging in such activities.
The account, which claims to be the official Farsi-language spokesperson for Mossad, has attracted attention for its provocative statements. One post remarked, “How can a leader lead when they sleep half the day and spend the other half high on substances?” This type of messaging marks a departure from how Mossad typically engages with the public.
According to two intelligence experts interviewed by JFeed, the account appears to be authentic. Zvi Yehezkeli, an Arab affairs commentator for i24News, described it as a “new battlefield tool.” He noted that many Iranians are disillusioned with the current regime, allowing Mossad to operate differently in Iran compared to other regions. Beny Sabti, an expert at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies and a former IDF Persian-language officer, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Some of the information it has shared could only have come from Mossad.”
The allegations regarding Khamenei’s potential drug use are not new. In a 2022 television interview on a channel affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood in Turkey, Nour Mohamed Omara, an Iranian academic, claimed that the Supreme Leader regularly uses drugs. Omara asserted that Khamenei has a special village in Balochistan where drugs are produced, stating, “This village is run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and no one is allowed in.”
Despite these claims, it is important to note that Khamenei has publicly condemned drug use, particularly opium, as “un-Islamic” following the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The Islamic Republic imposes severe penalties for drug-related offenses, including the death penalty.
As of now, Mossad has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement in the claims about Khamenei’s alleged substance use or the authenticity of the social media account. This controversy highlights the ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel, as well as the complexities of information warfare in the region.
