Fresh rumours about Iran’s leadership have erupted amid the escalating Israel–Iran conflict. Reports claimed Mojtaba Khamenei, widely seen as Iran’s new supreme leader, was secretly flown to Russia for treatment after recent strikes. Tehran quickly pushed back, calling the claims part of a “psychological war” and insisting Iran’s leaders are not fleeing the country. The denial came as Israeli officials made explosive claims about a major strike on senior Iranian figure Ali Larijani. As conflicting narratives spread across global media, the battle is now unfolding not only on the battlefield but also across the information war.