Mojtaba Khamenei Marks Six Months as Iran's Supreme Leader Without Appearing in Public

Six months after Mojtaba Khamenei became Iran's supreme leader, most Iranians still have not seen or heard him. He has made no public appearance and has issued no video or audio address, even as Iran remains at war and faces a severe economic crisis.

He also did not attend the six-day funeral ceremonies for his predecessor and father, Ali Khamenei, in July. Ali Khamenei died in an attack by Israel and the United States on February 28, the first day of the war, and Mojtaba was appointed on March 8.

Since his appointment, Mojtaba Khamenei has issued 21 statements on religious occasions, the war and the economic situation. Initially, television presenters read them. Later, they appeared on X and Telegram. But he remains a mysterious and largely unknown figure for much of the Iranian public.

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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is possibly the most important sector in Iran at the moment.

Before taking the post, little was known about the 56-year-old cleric. He had kept a low profile despite playing an important role in his father's office. Iranian authorities have attributed his public absence to security concerns, but it has fueled speculation about his health after he apparently suffered injuries in the attack that killed his father, his wife and a niece.

Analysts also broadly agree that Mojtaba does not wield the same power or control that his father exercised over the country during nearly four decades. Raffaele Mauriello said Iran's leadership is now more collective, with Mojtaba's voice one among several in a form of consensus. “The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is possibly the most important sector in Iran at the moment,” he said, while stressing that this did not mean it held absolute power.

Iranian authorities acknowledge that Mojtaba was injured during the war but describe the injuries as minor and say he has recovered, remains in control and has the final say on important decisions. President Masoud Pezeshkian said he met the supreme leader in early August for seven hours. “A person who can sit and discuss for seven hours cannot be someone with health problems,” Pezeshkian said. The most important decision publicly attributed to Mojtaba so far has been the renewal of the Islamic Republic's military leadership.

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A person who can sit and discuss for seven hours cannot be someone with health problems.