The American Pundit

I’m not buying it, but I’d love to be wrong. Some say he’s in a coma, others say he’s quite simply dead.

Michael Leeden is hearing that there’s an increase in security in the streets and some bazaars will be closed tomorrow and Friday. He also reports that the general rumor is that the religious leader and ultimate authority in Iran is dead.

Anti-Mullah is hearing that Khamenei has died and the announcement will be made tomorrow. There are even reports that the official news agency and other government buildings are being draped in black.

His condition had already seriously deteriorated over the last months, aggravated by his nervous condition due to [1] his inability to solve the problems created by his manipulation of the election results and the refusal of [a large part of] the population to accept this, plus [2] his loss of religious authority by means of the repeated condemnations of events by senior clerics.

Reportedly the principal aims of Khamenei of the last couple of weeks, if not months, were to ensure [1] a positive reputation as his legacy and [2] the physical survival of his family members and their wealth, reportedly now largely in Syria and in Turkey (remember the truck convoy of $8.5 billion in cash and gold that was seized by the Turks?).

Outlook is uncertain but speculation is – considering that he is in coma since more than 24 hours – that he may not come out of his coma and/or that he may die very soon…

According to a bulletin from the Greens (Moussavi/Karroubi et al), there are widespread rumors in the Tehran Bazaar that Khamenei has died. The Greens say they cannot confirm it, but that there is an “abnormal atmosphere” in the streets, which almost certainly means there are more security people than usual.

The bazaar will apparently be closed tomorrow, and perhaps Friday as well, pending developments.

Like I said, I’m not buying it. It sounds like wishful thinking that’s turned into rumors and now into reports from the opposition within or outside Iran. I’m pretty sure we’ll get a firm denial or even video of Khamenei doing something contemporary in the near future. Perhaps even an AP report citing unnamed American officials denying any knowledge of such a development. It’s the Middle Eastern version of Castro death rumors.