Iranian media publish 2nd statement from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei as health questions linger

Mojtaba Khamenei, the newly appointed Supreme Leader of Iran and son of his predecessor Ali Khamenei, has not been seen since the attacks that killed most of his family and ignited the U.S. and Israeli war against the Islamic Republic. 

Rumors have surrounded Mojtaba’s condition, with unconfirmed reports claiming either that he was evacuated to Moscow for treatment of his injuries, that he is in a coma, or that he has died from his injuries. 

However, despite his failure to make any public appearance, a second statement in his name was recently released on the regime-affiliated Mehr News, in which he said that officials and heads of state institutions appointed by his father should “continue to carry on with their work.” 

“Following inquiries from some managers and officials of bodies who were directly appointed by the martyred leader, I hereby announce that none of them need a renewal of their appointment for now,” the statement said. 

“I pray to God Almighty for everyone's success in fulfilling their responsibilities,” it continued. 

The order is notable due to reports that Ali Larijani, who is said to have been running the political side of the regime for months, had lobbied against Mojtaba's nomination as supreme leader, instead supporting his own brother, Sadiq Larijani.

The statement was only the second one released in Mojtaba’s name since his appointment as the next supreme leader. 

In the first, he had vowed revenge against the U.S. and Israel while offering an apparent attempt to placate the Gulf states, which have been attacked by Iran since the first few hours of the war. 

“We are not an enemy of the countries around us, and we are only targeting the bases of those Americans,” that statement said, which echoed comments of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. 

.@POTUS on Mojtaba Khamenei: "A lot of people are saying that he's badly disfigured. They’re saying that he lost his leg... Other people are saying he's dead. Nobody is saying he’s 100% healthy, and he hasn’t hasn’t spoken..." pic.twitter.com/KpYNj9Qj5S

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 16, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump further fueled speculation about Mojtaba’s condition in an interview with NBC News, saying, “I don't know if he's even alive. So far, nobody's been able to show him.” 

“I'm hearing he's not alive, and if he is, he should do something very smart for his country, and that's surrender,” President Trump told the new outlet. 

Several reports have claimed that the elder Khamenei opposed the appointment of his son in his place.

Israeli officials have largely kept silent on Mojtaba Khamenei’s condition; however, Defense Minister Israel Katz posted a message on 𝕏, saying the new leader would also be a target.

“Every leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue and lead the plan to destroy Israel, to threaten the United States and the free world and the countries of the region, and to suppress the Iranian people – will be an unequivocal target for assassination," Katz warned. "It does not matter what his name is or the place where he hides.” 

An Iranian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Telegraph, “No one knows anything about Mojtaba, whether he is alive or dead or how badly injured.” 

“We are all just told that he's injured. He has no control over the war because he is not here. The majority of commanders, or more correctly, all commanders, have no news about him,” the official claimed. 

Meanwhile, a report in The Telegraph says the younger Khamenei narrowly escaped death by seconds in the strike which killed his father, Ali Khamenei. 

The British news agency claims it obtained a leaked audio of Iranian officials discussing the Israeli strike that killed the elder Khamenei. 

"God's will was that Mojtaba had to go out to the yard to do something and then return," Mazaher Hosseini, the head of protocol in the elder Khamenei's office, is reported to have told IRGC officials in a meeting on March 12. "He was outside and was heading upstairs when they struck the building with a missile," Hosseini said. "His wife, Haddad, was martyred instantly.” 

Hosseini also revealed that Mojtaba Khamenei suffered “a minor injury to his leg” in the strikes, which killed many of his family members. 

Mojtaba has not been seen since the start of the war or in the 18 days since his election. The only evidence of his survival is the statements of officials like Hosseini and the two statements released in his name to Iranian media.