Iran's Supreme Leader Remains Invisible Six Months After War Began

Six months after the war began and Mojtaba Khamenei was propelled into the role of Iran's supreme leader, he remains entirely unseen and unheard by the public. This vacuum at the heart of the country's leadership has intensified questions over his condition and role, particularly as Iran faces critical decisions amid a war that has set the Middle East ablaze and battered the nation's fragile economy.

Iranian officials and other senior sources maintain that Khamenei is still in control, ruling from the shadows for security reasons as he recovers from disfiguring wounds. They assert that he delegates broad daily authority to a group of top figures. However, the absence of any photograph, video, or audio message since his appointment has fueled skepticism among Iranians, especially in a regime where the leader's voice is expected to be absolute.

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The question is no longer whether Mojtaba is alive, but whether Iran still has a functioning supreme leader.

"The question is no longer whether Mojtaba is alive, but whether Iran still has a functioning supreme leader," said Alex Vatanka of the Middle East Institute in Washington. Khamenei's only public communications have been written statements read aloud by news broadcasters. He was even absent from the week-long funeral rites for his father last month.

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We need to hear our leader's voice, or see any sign that he is there on top and leading the country to give us more confidence.

Top officials and insiders attribute Khamenei's absence to assassination fears, claiming he holds frequent meetings with key figures, receives all major reports, and makes final decisions on important issues. President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on August 10 that he had a seven-hour meeting with Khamenei. Yet, even among the regime's staunchest supporters, doubts are emerging. "We need to hear our leader's voice, or see any sign that he is there on top and leading the country to give us more confidence," said a member of the Basij volunteer militia in Qom.

This member, who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive subject, believed Khamenei was still making key decisions but acknowledged that the lack of even a photograph was damaging morale and not in Iran's interest. For Iranians who oppose the ruling hierarchy or seek reforms, the message is more direct. "How do we know that Mojtaba has not been killed?" asked Shahrokh, a pro-reform businessman in Tehran, also requesting anonymity. "It is not logical that there is not a single sign proving he is alive, let alone evidence that he is involved in decision-making."

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How do we know that Mojtaba has not been killed?