On April 6, a crowd gathered at a pro-government rally in Tehran. Above them was a banner showing their new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, in a military uniform. The image was striking, but analysts say it was created by artificial intelligence.
Seven weeks after becoming the third Supreme Leader, the 56-year-old cleric has not appeared publicly. There have been no televised speeches, no photographs, and no recorded messages. For a position that has been Iran's most visible symbol since 1979, this silence is unprecedented.
Mojtaba inherited the title under tragic circumstances. On February 28, 2026, a U.S. and Israeli airstrike killed his father, Ali Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989. The same strikes killed his wife, sister, and a niece. Mojtaba survived with a fractured foot and facial injuries. Eight days later, the Assembly of Experts voted unanimously to make him Supreme Leader. Then he disappeared.
Statements in his name have only appeared as text, read by television anchors or posted online. When the Persian New Year arrived on March 20, Iranians expected the traditional televised address from their leader. Instead, they received a written message.
The silence has been filled with deepfake videos showing Mojtaba in military command centers. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently stated he had received a written message from the new leader, suggesting even Russia has no direct contact.
U.S. and Israeli intelligence agree Mojtaba is alive but seriously injured, operating from a hidden location. However, they disagree about whether he is actually leading the country. What is clear is that a military council now controls access to him, and Iran continues its military operations without its Supreme Leader being seen.