The complete absence of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, continues to raise widespread questions inside and outside the country more than four months after he succeeded his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint US-Israeli attack in late February.
His prolonged disappearance has fuelled growing concerns over his health and his actual role in governing Iran during one of the most turbulent periods in the history of the Islamic Republic.
Reuters said in a report that Mojtaba Khamenei’s whereabouts remain “a mystery that has baffled Iranians and the rest of the world”. He has not appeared publicly since he was appointed supreme leader, was absent even from his father’s funeral, and has issued no written or recorded message.
The silence has triggered extensive speculation over his political and medical condition.
Injured During the Attack
Reuters cited senior Iranian sources as saying that Mojtaba Khamenei suffered injuries to his face and other parts of his body during the attack that killed his father.
The sources said he continues to manage state affairs and make decisions, but that his health “does not allow him to appear publicly”.
They added that the renewed military confrontation between Iran and the United States in recent days has made questions over the new supreme leader’s role even more pressing.
Taghi, a 47-year-old shopkeeper in Isfahan, told Reuters: “I understand that, for security reasons, he should not appear publicly, but the country is going through a very difficult time.”
“There is a need for the supreme leader to appear, even if he is injured. People need to see that a leader is running the country,” he added.
The Khamenei Family Remains in the Spotlight
Reuters noted that Ali Khamenei’s burial ceremony, held last Thursday, reflected the family’s continuing symbolic presence at the centre of the Iranian leadership.
The late supreme leader’s three other sons led prayers over his body at one of Iran’s holiest religious shrines.
Ali Khomeini, the grandson of Islamic Republic founder Ruhollah Khomeini, is also expected to deliver a speech on Mojtaba’s behalf during the mourning ceremony. Reuters said the move reflected the system’s reliance on family ties to reinforce the continuity of power.
There had been expectations that Mojtaba would make his first appearance during the burial ceremony, either in person or through a written statement or recorded video. That did not happen, with sources attributing his continued absence to security and health considerations.
Serious Security Concerns
Reuters said the security risks surrounding the new supreme leader are exceptionally high, particularly after his father was assassinated on the first day of the war launched by the United States and the Israeli occupation against Iran, while diplomatic efforts were under way to contain the crisis.
The office of supreme leader is not merely a political position within the Iranian system. It also represents the country’s highest religious authority, making public appearances important for projecting leadership and strength.
His current health condition, however, may prevent him from fulfilling that role publicly.
The most recent official statement on his health came from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who said in May that he had met Mojtaba Khamenei and that his condition was “improving”.
Reuters said the supreme leader’s continued disappearance has raised questions about the system’s ability to manage a transfer of power, despite the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps maintaining firm control over the institutions of the state.
Ali Ansari, a professor of modern history at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, said the new leader’s absence presented a dilemma for the system.
“How can a transfer of power succeed when the successor is completely absent?” he said. “They may be able to manage it temporarily, but it will not be sustainable in the long term.”
Concern Among Iranians
Reuters said it had spoken to more than 20 Iranians in recent weeks, most of whom expressed concern over the new supreme leader’s continuing absence.
Mohammad Reza, a 51-year-old teacher in Tehran, said: “The absence of the supreme leader, particularly after the war ended and the previous leader was buried, increases the uncertainty and disorder inside the country.”
The Reuters report noted that Mojtaba Khamenei does not possess the religious standing enjoyed by Ruhollah Khomeini, nor had he held prominent political positions like his father before becoming supreme leader.
However, he played a central role for years in managing his father’s office and built an extensive network of relationships with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is believed to have provided the support necessary for him to assume the position after his father’s assassination.
Reuters suggested that Mojtaba may become more dependent on the Revolutionary Guard in governing the country because he lacks the religious and popular legitimacy enjoyed by his predecessors.
The report concluded that Iran’s future remains surrounded by uncertainty amid the continuing war, an economic crisis caused by sanctions and the possibility of renewed domestic protests.
Meanwhile, the new supreme leader remains out of public view, leaving his character and governing style the subject of continuing speculation inside and outside Iran.
