Where Is Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei? Russian Envoy Reveals

It's been nearly a month since Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed the new supreme leader of Iran, but the world is yet to see him in public. He has released several public statements since then, which were read on national television. But his absence from the public eye has fuelled rumours about his health and whereabouts. 

Putting speculations to rest, a Russian ambassador has said Mojtaba Khamenei is in Iran itself. 

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in the country but has been avoiding public appearances "for understandable reasons", Russian ambassador to Iran Alexey Dedov told the RTVI news outlet.

Buzz Over Mojtaba Khamenei's Whereabouts

Mojtaba Khamenei replaced his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28 at the beginning of the war. The US has said it believes the new Supreme Leader himself is wounded and likely "disfigured".

A media report also claimed that Mojtaba Khamenei was flown to Moscow for treatment on Russian President Vladimir Putin's invitation. Russia and Iran maintain close diplomatic ties, and last year both nations signed a strategic partnership treaty. Moscow's statement on Mojtaba's presence in Iran underscores its continued engagement with Tehran despite the leadership uncertainty.

Khanenei's continued absence has done little to dampen the fervour of those faithful to the Islamic regime, with thousands taking to the streets in the last month to pledge their allegiance. The pledge has become a rallying cry as Iran retaliated to US and Israeli aggression with counterstrikes against enemy targets across the Gulf.  

Yet the continued absence of Iran's new leader has raised a deeper question of who is truly running the country at a time of war.

For nearly four decades, the 56-year-old cleric operated largely behind the scenes during his father's rule, wielding influence but rarely appearing in public. Now thrust into the most powerful position in Iran, his continued invisibility, according to a CNN report, underscores the changing nature of power in the Islamic Republic, where institutions and security bodies may matter more than the individual at the top.