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CIA and Mossad Track whereabouts of Iran's New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Amid Absence
Iran's New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's Whereabouts Remain Unknown
The United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Israel's Mossad, along with other global intelligence agencies, are actively seeking signs of Mojtaba Khamenei. He has remained largely unseen since being declared the Islamic Republic of Iran's new Supreme Leader following the assassination of his father, Ali Khamenei. The hunt was launched after Mojtaba Khamenei's unusual absence from public view, especially his failure to deliver a traditional video statement for Nowruz, the Persian New Year.
Instead of a video, a written statement was issued by the Supreme Leader's office, a break from years of tradition. This has left intelligence agencies baffled, raising questions about his condition and whether he is truly leading. An unnamed Israeli official was quoted as saying, "We have no evidence that he is really the one giving orders." A U.S. official described the situation as "beyond weird," adding, "We don’t think the Iranians would have gone through all this trouble to choose a dead guy as the Supreme Leader, but at the same time, we have no proof that he is taking the helm."
Deepening Mystery and International Concerns
Iranian state media released what it claimed was the first-ever video of Mojtaba Khamenei teaching religious studies, seemingly an attempt to counter speculation. However, the footage lacks confirmation of when it was recorded, leading many to question its authenticity. U.S. intelligence officials have raised serious concerns, with some reports suggesting Mojtaba may have been severely injured in a U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28th that killed his father, or even disfigured or in a coma. There are also unconfirmed reports of him traveling to Moscow for treatment.
Adding to the uncertainty, Donald Trump, the U.S. President, has publicly questioned Mojtaba's condition, stating that no one knows if he is alive or fully healthy. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mocked Mojtaba, calling him a "puppet" of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. As pressure builds and questions mount, Iran appears to be pushing back, with officials stating that Mojtaba Khamenei will address the nation during Nowruz. The international community watches closely, with the absence of a visible leader raising serious concerns in an already volatile region.
*Source: YouTube: Times of India (2026-03-22)*
