The mystery surrounding whereabouts of Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei: the CIA and Mossad hypothesis

The intelligence agencies of the United States and Israel, the CIA and Mossad, respectively, closely followed developments during the Persian New Year to see whether Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, would uphold his father’s tradition of delivering a public address. However, this time he limited himself to issuing a written statement on Telegram, accompanied by several photographs.

The fact that the celebration was reduced to a written statement has raised questions about his health, whereabouts, and political role, especially since he has not been seen since March 9.

Although his absence has not come as a complete surprise, since he is considered one of the primary targets following his father’s assassination, the prolonged silence has fueled uncertainty. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that the Iranian leader was “wounded and likely disfigured” in the attack that killed his father and predecessor, along with several family members including his wife.

Security concerns

After weeks without video messages, his lack of public appearances has intensified speculation about his next moves. Nevertheless, intelligence agencies maintain that he is still alive, based on reports from officials who have attempted to meet with him, although those meetings ultimately did not take place for security reasons.

The matter has been addressed in briefings with President Donald Trump, as efforts continue to determine who truly holds power in Tehran. “We have no evidence that he is really the one giving orders,” said a senior Israeli official.

Since his appointment on March 9, backed by more hardline factions, his presence has been limited to written messages, further raising doubts about the effectiveness of his leadership.

Meanwhile, U.S. sources believe that Ali Larijani may have assumed leadership functions until his death. “Their leaders are all gone…Now nobody wants to be a leader over there anymore,” Trump said.

Israeli authorities maintain that senior Iranian officials are currently operating as high-value targets, constantly on the move and avoiding any form of digital communication to ensure their security.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.