OMM Newsroom
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public six months after the reported death of his father and his own serious injury. Questions have emerged about his health, ability to govern and who is effectively exercising power in the country.
The 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei was elected supreme leader by the Assembly of Experts on March 8, days after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in US and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28. Since then, no verified photograph, video or audio recording of him has been released. He was also absent from his father’s funeral ceremonies in July.
Iranian officials and senior figures close to the country’s leadership say Mojtaba Khamenei is alive and exercising supreme authority from a secure location. They say his absence from public view is necessary because of the continuing threat of assassination. Written statements and decisions continue to be issued in his name.
Claims about Mojtaba Khamenei’s health
Mojtaba Khamenei was injured during the first strikes of the war. Tehran has not disclosed the precise extent of his injuries. However, “Reuters” reported in August, citing senior Iranian sources, that he was seriously wounded and his face was disfigured.
US President Donald Trump said on Aug. 26 that he believed Mojtaba Khamenei was alive but “very badly injured.” Trump said the injuries affected the left side of his body, including his arm and leg. He said this assessment was based partly on statements that Iranian negotiators needed to consult Khamenei before finalizing decisions.
Earlier reports in the US media claimed that he had undergone several operations on his arms and legs and suffered severe burns to his face and lips that affected his ability to speak. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also said Khamenei had been injured and was likely disfigured. Tehran has not officially confirmed the reports.
What do Iranian officials say?
Iranian officials have presented differing accounts of the supreme leader’s condition. President Masoud Pezeshkian said in August that he had held a seven-hour meeting with Mojtaba Khamenei. Other senior Iranian sources said the leader was receiving reports, meeting senior officials and retaining the final say on key decisions.
On Aug. 30, a written message on Mojtaba Khamenei’s “Telegram” account was published for Islamic Unity Week. He called on Muslim states, particularly Gulf countries, to unite against what he described as the “real enemy.” The message stressed the importance of broader cooperation and mutual defense. However, it provided no visual or audio evidence concerning his health.
Who is effectively exercising power in Iran?
Iranian officials say security is the main reason the leader has not appeared publicly. According to senior sources, very few officials have met Mojtaba Khamenei in person since March. They believe information about his location and movements could provide the United States or Israel with an opportunity to launch another strike.
Mohammad Hossein Khoshvaght, a former Iranian official and a person close to the Khamenei family, told “The Atlantic” magazine that fewer than five people had met Mojtaba Khamenei since March because of security measures. Pezeshkian has also previously said it was “extremely difficult” to contact the supreme leader.
The prolonged absence has caused concern even among supporters of the Islamic Republic. According to media reports, a Basij member in Qom said supporters needed to hear Mojtaba Khamenei’s voice or see evidence that he was leading the country.
After the war, the Supreme National Security Council and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps began playing a more important role in decision-making. Media reports said their influence had increased during the conflict and that they remained central to strategic decisions alongside senior political figures. At the same time, Iranian sources say Mojtaba Khamenei is fully involved in discussions and retains final decision-making authority on major issues.
At present, he may remain the formal religious and political center of the Islamic Republic while relying on senior security officials for day-to-day governance. Another possibility is that his health has significantly limited his ability to govern, allowing these institutions to gain greater independence. Available independent public evidence does not make it possible to determine which of these scenarios is closer to reality.
Each additional month that Mojtaba Khamenei remains absent from public view creates more room for competing claims about his health, intentions and role in decision-making. As Iran’s supreme leader remains unseen and unheard, uncertainty over his legitimacy and the country’s post-war political order will continue.
