International
oi-Gaurav Sharma
Iranian state-affiliated media have moved to dispel rumours surrounding the status of Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, the wife of the late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
On Thursday, the Fars News Agency reported that Bagherzadeh is alive, rejecting earlier claims that she had died during recent military strikes linked to the conflict involving Iran, United States and Israel.
Fars News Agency denied rumours regarding the death of Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, wife of the late Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, confirming she is alive amid speculation after recent strikes linked to the conflict.
Rumours spread after Khamenei’s death
Speculation about Bagherzadeh began circulating soon after reports emerged that Ali Khamenei had been killed in a strike during the early phase of the conflict. Some unverified reports suggested that his wife had also been killed in the same incident.
However, as the war situation evolved, several outlets avoided confirming those claims, leaving uncertainty about her status.
First statement by Iran’s new leader
Attention intensified when Mojtaba Khamenei, who has taken over as Iran’s new supreme leader, issued his first public remarks on Thursday. His statement focused primarily on national security and the ongoing conflict, but it made no reference to any personal loss within the family.
The absence of such a mention led to renewed questions online about whether Bagherzadeh had survived the reported strike.
Fars News clarification
To address the speculation, Fars News Agency stated that the rumours were inaccurate and confirmed that Bagherzadeh remains alive. The agency, which is closely associated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, frequently reflects positions aligned with the Iranian establishment.
A rarely seen member of the ruling family
Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh has long maintained an extremely low public profile. She seldom appears at official events or in media coverage, which analysts say contributed to the confusion when reports about her alleged death began circulating.
Wartime information challenges
The episode also highlights how quickly unverified claims can spread during conflicts. In the early days of the fighting, rapidly developing events and limited confirmation created space for conflicting reports about prominent figures connected to Iran’s leadership.
