Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded his father as Iran's Supreme Leader on March 8, 2026, following Ali Khamenei's assassination in a February 28 US-Israeli strike that also killed Mojtaba's wife and triggered an ongoing conflict. He has issued written statements and decrees but has made no verified public appearances, released no video or audio, and was absent from his father's July funeral ceremonies attended by millions. Iranian authorities cite security threats from targeted killings of regime figures, while President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed in mid-September interviews that Mojtaba remains alive, in authority, and guiding decisions from an undisclosed location. Regime-aligned media have amplified indirect claims of his health and involvement, including family descriptions of his interests and unverified accounts of private attendance at events, amid speculation over injuries and a possible shift toward more collective leadership structures.