Mojtaba Khamenei absence raises concerns

Mojtaba Khamenei, appointed supreme leader of Iran after the assassination of his father Ali Khamenei in late February 2026, has not been seen in public since his appointment on March 8. He suffered facial disfigurement and other injuries in the strike that killed his father, according to senior sources. His absence from funeral ceremonies and lack of any public appearance or recorded message have raised concerns among Iranians and analysts about the stability of the Islamic Republic's leadership. The Revolutionary Guards, who backed his appointment, appear to be running the country in his absence. Hostilities with the U.S. reignited in July 2026, adding urgency to the need for visible leadership. President Masoud Pezeshkian stated in May that he met the leader and his condition was improving. Ali Khamenei, grandson of Ruhollah Khomeini, spoke on Mojtaba's behalf at a mourning ceremony.