After he was presented in Iranian state media for the first time as the new supreme leader, the health status of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has become the subject of numerous speculations. Particular attention was drawn to the formulation used by Iranian state television, calling him a “wounded veteran (janbaz) of the Ramadan war,” which caused doubts among analysts and translators.
The Persian word “janbaz” comes from the word “jan,” which means life or soul, and the word “baz” which is usually added as a suffix at the end of other words and denotes someone who takes risks. Therefore, at the core of the word is a meaning that refers to someone who risks their life.
On the other hand, in everyday Persian, the term “janbaz” is translated as “wounded war veteran,” and that word usually carries a dose of respect and sympathy.
Although numerous world media outlets concluded based on this word that Mojtaba Khamenei was allegedly wounded in the current war, Persian language experts warn that this word has a much broader meaning and does not necessarily denote a physical injury.
In official Persian, which is used in political and media discourse, the expression janbaz is often used to describe a person who has “sacrificed themselves for the homeland or faith,” that is, for someone who has shown exceptional loyalty and readiness for sacrifice. In that context, the title “janbaz of the Ramadan war” could rather represent a symbolic description, a kind of recognition or a propaganda epithet, than a confirmation that the new ayatollah is indeed wounded.
There is no reliable information about the actual health state of the ayatollah for now, and Iranian authorities have not published any official details about eventual injuries, nor have independent sources confirmed that Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded during the conflict. Precisely because of this, some analysts believe that the term was perhaps intentionally chosen to leave room for different interpretations.
Some political commentators even put forward speculations that the new ayatollah is dead, and that everything is a trick by the Iranian authorities to prevent the liquidation of the real new leader of Iran.
At the same time, state television tried to present the new ayatollah as a modern and educated leader. It was stated that Mojtaba Khamenei speaks English fluently, that he completed specialized courses in psychology and psychoanalysis, and that he is well-versed in modern technologies, military sciences, and security issues.
Media in Iran also point out that he has knowledge of political principles and the functioning of state administration, which should show that he is ready to lead the country in one of the most difficult periods in recent history.
The fact that Khamenei has still not spoken or appeared in public, as well as the fact that it is still not known whether he is truly alive, dead, or wounded, only further fuels questions that it is either a trick by Iran or a carefully chosen play on words.
Source: Serbian Times; Photo: ynetnews.com