European, Gulf officials warns of "imminent retaliation" against Israeli, Jewish targets over the Nov. 27 assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. Israel has already placed its diplomatic missions around the world on high alert.
The statement about Khamenei's health comes in response to reports by several news organizations, which referred to a tweet by a journalist in Arabic who said Khamenei had transferred duties to his son because of his health.
Iran has blamed Israel for the Nov. 27 killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, threatening a "crushing retaliation." Arab intelligence officials: Iran's citing of multiple factors contributing to hit reflects its embarrassment.
The official coronavirus tally in the Islamic republic recently topped 1 million cases.
The United States and Kuwait have worked to end the dispute, during which Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt have imposed a diplomatic, trade, and travel embargo on Qatar since mid-2017 over the nation's support of terrorism. Washington says the row has hampered the creation of a united Arab Gulf front against Iran.
Author and Middle East commentator Ali Shihabi says Persian Gulf states could support a Biden White House if the Delaware Democrat "governs as a centrist" and addresses the weaknesses of the Iran nuclear deal.
If Democratic nominee Joe Biden enters the White House, "many of the countries that are currently exploring the possibility of normalizing relations [with Israel] will take a step back and rethink the risk they are taking," a senior Bahraini official says.
