No public appearance, now a video: Where is Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei?
Iran on Friday released a video of its new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei teaching religious studies to a group of students. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) said the footage was being released for the first time, but did not say how old it was.Mojtaba Khamenei took over as supreme leader of Iran after his father Ali Khamenei was killed in a US strike on February 28. Since then, he has largely remained out of public view, leading to speculation about his health.In his first statement after taking power, Khamenei called for national unity and said the vital global artery of the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed to put pressure on Iran’s enemies.Meanwhile, Donald Trump has publicly questioned Khamenei’s position. He said, “We don’t know… whether he is dead or not. Nobody is saying he is 100% healthy… Nobody has seen him, which is unusual.”Earlier reports also suggested that he may have been injured in the same attack that killed his father. Iranian state television also described him as a “wounded veteran” of the conflict, but Iran’s minister Abbas Araghchi claimed there were “no problems” with the new leader.Khamenei, 56, is considered a powerful but low-profile figure in Iran’s system. He has long been seen as an influential figure behind the scenes with strong ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He served in the Habib Battalion during the Iran–Iraq War and is said to have formed lasting relationships with figures who later rose to senior positions in Iran’s security apparatus, including intelligence and Basij commanders.The US State Department has announced a reward of $ 10 million for information about Mojtaba Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials.
