Is Mojtaba Khamenei Dead?
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen in public for six months, leading to widespread speculation about his health or potential death. Government officials remain silent, fueling uncertainty regarding the country's leadership.
Why it matters
The potential power vacuum or instability in Iran has significant implications for regional security and global geopolitics.
The office of Iran’s supreme leader has fallen quiet, fueling uncertainty in a country with decisions to make.
AFP / Getty August 25, 2026, 7 AM ET Share Save Last Tuesday, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei hosted a wake for his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Among the thousands who thronged Tehran’s biggest mosque were the country’s most prominent political figures and several of the elder Khamenei’s sons. One person was notably absent: Mojtaba, the event’s official host.
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