Hiding, wounded or dead? Iran’s new leader Mojtaba Khamenei has yet to appear in public, fueling speculation about his fate

Reports suggest Khamenei's legs were wounded but remains conscious

Since he was announced as the Iranian regime’s next leader on Sunday, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public or in any kind of recorded video or audio message, nor has he published a written statement, fueling speculation about his condition.

It has been widely reported that Khamenei survived the strike on the Supreme Leader’s Office compound in Tehran on Feb. 28, in which both of his parents, his wife, and a son were reportedly killed.

Iranian state TV has referred to him as janbazi-ye jang-e ramazan, meaning he has been dangerously wounded during the “Ramadan War,” the regime's name for the current conflict.

While this adds to the myth-making surrounding the new leader, it also suggests he may either be too injured to appear in public or fears being targeted again, as U.S. and Israeli leaders have threatened.

This isn’t getting enough attention.pic.twitter.com/D6DvmFpwmp
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) March 11, 2026

Three Iranian officials told The New York Times that they heard from senior regime officials that Khamenei was wounded in his legs but is alert and remains hidden at a secure location with limited communication.

Two Israeli military officials confirmed with the NYT that Israel estimates Khamenei suffered leg wounds of an unknown extent in the opening strike that killed his father.

A “source familiar with the matter” also told the Jerusalem Post he was injured but is still capable of carrying out his duties.

The regime in #Iran has been holding rallies today in support of Mojtaba Khamenei's elevation as supreme leader. But Mojtaba has not made any public appearance since he's been named leader. No photo, no video message. Under the current wartime conditions, there are significant… pic.twitter.com/uIs3Q5VunE
— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) March 9, 2026

There has been no official statement regarding the new supreme leader’s condition; however, regime announcements that he would soon give a speech have yet to come true.

Asked about Khamenei, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told PBS on Tuesday. “It’s too soon for him to make any comment. We’re all waiting for his speeches and comments, which should come later on.”

A senior government source told IranWire that even Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has had no communication with the new leader, and no certain information about his condition.

However, earlier reports had suggested that Pezeshkian has been sidelined within the government, which is said to run mainly through Iranian security official Ali Larijani.

“We have no information regarding Mojtaba Khamenei’s status. The government ministers have no news of him, and as far as I know, Mr. Pezeshkian himself has had no contact with His Eminence Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei,” the source said.

A banner showing Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei alongside the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the Islamic Republic’s founder Ruhollah Khomeini hangs on a building in Tehran on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/iVjv32o802
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) March 10, 2026

Even before his nomination, Mojtaba Khamenei had been a secretive figure, with very few images – and even less video footage – of him available.

Afterwards, Iranian TV stations quickly released a short documentary about Khamenei’s life, painting him as an educated cleric who will continue the path of his father.

Meanwhile, the regime has circulated images, put up posters, and even displayed cardboard cutouts of Khamenei around the capital and at large rallies celebrating his nomination.

Khamenei 2.0 has been an AI-generated leader so far. He has not given a single public speech and has not met anyone in person on camera. But this documentary was released within hours of Mojtaba's election as leader. @iranwire team has added English subtitles. #IranWar… pic.twitter.com/EZoGCqRJJV
— Maziar Bahari (@maziarbahari) March 10, 2026

Many of those were altered with AI, showing his slain father and the founder of the regime, Ruhollah Khomeini, handing him the banner of the revolution.