By Shumaila Aslam
Bureau Chief, Pakistan
Scandinavian News Agency (SNN), Finland
HELSINKI More than four months after war erupted between Iran and the U.S.-Israeli alliance, the whereabouts and true physical condition of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei Missing, remain unconfirmed, deepening speculation among intelligence analysts and regional observers.
Leader Absent From Public View Since February Strike
Mojtaba Khamenei Missing, 56, has not appeared in public since the war began on February 28, when a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike on Tehran killed his father, former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with his mother, wife, and sister.
Senior Iranian officials, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the new leader is staying in hiding and is unlikely to appear publicly until the conflict concludes.
State Media Claims Contrast With Lack of Evidence
Iranian state media and officials maintain that Khamenei Missing is recovering, “mentally sharp,” and actively engaged in governance. However, no photographs, video, or audio recordings of him have surfaced since the February attack.
All statements attributed to him have been written and distributed primarily through his Telegram channel, rather than delivered in person or via recorded broadcast.
A Western diplomat based in the region, speaking to the Scandinavian News Agency (SNA) on condition of anonymity, said the Iranian leadership faces a serious legitimacy challenge, since a leader who cannot be seen or heard undermines a system built on claims of divine authority.
Conflicting Reports on Extent of Injuries
The severity of Khamenei Missing injuries remains disputed. Iranian health officials initially described his wounds as minor and said he was discharged from hospital on March 1.
However, Reuters has reported, citing multiple sources including individuals close to his inner circle, that he suffered severe facial disfigurement and significant limb injuries. Other reports describe burns to his face and body along with leg injuries requiring multiple surgeries.
Absence From Father’s Funeral Deepens Speculation
Speculation intensified during the week-long state funeral for Ali Khamenei Missing in early July.
Three of Mojtaba’s brothers Masoud, Meysam, and Mostafa appeared publicly alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian and Revolutionary Guards chief Ahmad Vahidi. Mojtaba Khamenei was notably absent.
His absence has led some Iran-watchers to conclude his injuries may be more severe than officially acknowledged, with a minority speculating he may have died.
A senior Pakistani intelligence official told SNA that the regime faces a difficult balancing act: projecting strength and continuity while avoiding exposure of a leader who may be severely incapacitated, creating what the official called a vacuum at the top of Iran’s decision-making structure.
Security Concerns Limit Public Appearances
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has publicly warned that Mojtaba Khamenei Missing remains a designated target for elimination, while U.S. officials have confirmed relying on intelligence assets to track and target senior figures within Iran’s leadership.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has publicly stated that Mojtaba Khamenei Missing is “marked for death,” and U.S. officials have acknowledged using intelligence to target senior Iranian leadership figures.
Iranian security agencies are reportedly restricting his public exposure as a precaution against further strikes.
A Fragile Ceasefire, an Uncertain Leadership
With the ceasefire fragile and tensions over the Strait of Hormuz escalating, the Supreme Leader’s Khamenei Missing continued absence from public view represents a growing vulnerability for a regime already contending with internal dissent.
Satellite image shows damage at Ali Khamenei’s compound after February 2026 airstrike in Tehran
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