Negotiations over the possible reinstatement of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) began in Vienna in April, prompting concerns and opposition from Israel, with Tel Aviv claiming that Tehran poses a threat to the Jewish state and seeks to create nuclear weapons.
On Thursday, the Israeli media outlet Walla reported, citing sources in the military establishment, that the health of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is “deteriorating” due to prostate cancer and this has a “significant effect” on the JCPOA talks with the US, which the ayatollah is “trying to delay”.
According to the report, Khamenei opposes the restoration of the JCPOA before the presidential election in Iran to prevent another victory and accumulation of power for the team of the sitting Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani. Rouhani will not take part in the upcoming 18 June presidential election.
The report claims that Washington acknowledges the “tensions between blocs” in Iran and is pushing for the agreement to be signed “with the moderate pragmatic forces” to strengthen their position in Iran and help them during the elections.
This is not the first time that speculation has emerged surrounding the health of the Iranian supreme leader, as, back in 2015 media reports claimed that Khamenei had been hospitalized in “critical” condition and had allegedly been given a life expectancy of just two years.
The reports emerged…
