Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed Tuesday in an interview with Arab media outlets that his communication with ‘Supreme Leader’ Mojtaba Khamenei is “growing day by day”—seemingly dispelling questions about whether Khamenei is even alive. But the facts on the ground tell a different story: Mojtaba hasn’t been seen in public since the war began, and claims are mounting that he was killed early in the conflict during IDF and U.S. strikes, along with his father Ali Khamenei.
1+Speculation and theories about Mojtaba have been circulating for some time. Some claim he’s seriously wounded, others that he’s dead—and that it’s the Revolutionary Guards who are issuing statements in his name and making decisions in Iran. An Iranian opposition activist running a popular account on X under the handle “Siaxers” presents what he claims is daily evidence that Iran’s current ‘supreme leader’ was killed and is essentially a fictional figure. According to him, Mojtaba’s “resurrection” is designed only to allow the regime to bridge internal disputes and survive the upheaval created after his father was also killed.
In fact, since the war began in late February, Mojtaba has remained in hiding, communicating with supporters only through written statements—never showing his face or using his voice. Iranian officials have worked to present an image of full recovery, even claiming he’s leading Tehran’s negotiations with Washington. Meanwhile, at the funeral of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on the first day of Operation “Roaring Lion” earlier this month—expectations were high that Mojtaba would appear at the ceremony.
1+On the other hand, Middle East expert Yoni Ben-Menachem told Channel 14 News that cabinet ministers received an update stating Mojtaba is still alive—and is staying inside Iran. According to him, reports that the ‘supreme leader’ left Iran are incorrect, and caution should be exercised with information published on this topic in Middle Eastern media outlets, as it may be an attempt to extract intelligence by spreading unsubstantiated reports.