Nearly four days have passed since Iran announced Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader, but his location and the details surrounding his appointment remain unclear. He has not appeared publicly, delivered a video message, or issued a written statement. Instead, Iranian state media has relied on archival footage while introducing him to the public.
According to reports from Iran’s state media, the 56-year-old cleric may have been injured during the ongoing US-Israel strikes on Iran, which the Iranian government calls the “Ramadan War.” State television has referred to him as the “Jaanbaz of Ramadan,” a term used for a war veteran who has been wounded.
During broadcasts about his rise to power, state TV anchors described Mojtaba Khamenei as a “jaanbaz,” meaning someone injured by enemy forces during the Ramadan War. However, they provided no further details, increasing speculation about his health and condition, especially as he has not been seen in public since the conflict began.
His possible injuries might explain why he has not addressed the nation in person or through video, though the absence of even a written statement remains puzzling. Despite this, public declarations of loyalty to the new leader continue.
In Tehran, videos show a new mural in the well-known Valiasr Square depicting Mojtaba Khamenei receiving Iran’s flag from his late father, Ali Khamenei, while the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ruhollah Khomeini, looks on. The mural, placed in a location often used for state messaging, appears intended to portray the leadership transition as smooth. However, the father-to-son succession contrasts with the Islamic Republic’s origins in a revolution against monarchy.
On Tuesday, supporters also gathered in Tehran to express their allegiance to the new leader. The rally was reportedly organised after US President Donald Trump suggested that Iran’s new leader should be chosen with his approval.
“We want to show that Iran’s leader is chosen by Iranians themselves,” one protester told RT.
Meanwhile, speculation about Mojtaba Khamenei’s location continues. A US media report claimed that an elite Iranian counterterrorism unit has been assigned to protect him following the assassination of his father.
The unit, known as NOPO — Iran’s black-uniformed Counterterrorism Special Force — has reportedly been deployed to safeguard the new leader, according to Fox News Digital.
Ali Safavi, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), told the publication that NOPO would likely now be responsible for Mojtaba Khamenei’s security.
Safavi explained that the force, established in 1991, developed from the 28th Ruhollah Division and is usually responsible for hostage rescue missions rather than protecting Iran’s supreme leader.
For much of his 56-year life, Mojtaba Khamenei has maintained a relatively low public profile in the Islamic Republic while quietly building influence within Iran’s security institutions, religious establishment and business elite.
Now stepping into his father’s role, he faces significant challenges, including ongoing military pressure from the United States and Israel and widespread domestic unrest among Iranians who oppose the ruling system.
The second-eldest son of Ali Khamenei — who was killed in the early hours of the US-Israel strikes on Iran nine days ago — Mojtaba’s rise to power comes at a time when the Islamic Republic faces one of the most serious threats in its nearly 50-year history.
To many critics of the regime, he represents the continuation of policies they have long opposed, including the government’s crackdown on dissent, the killing of protesters and political opponents, and allegations of corruption and cronyism within the country’s economy.
His appointment also signals that Iran’s leadership is unlikely to accept Donald Trump’s demand for surrender and that Mojtaba Khamenei is expected to maintain his father’s hardline policies, prioritising Islamic governance and an anti-US foreign policy. He may also seek revenge for the deaths of his father, mother and wife, who were reportedly killed in the February 28 strikes.
Source: NDTV