Mojtaba Khamenei was selected by Iran's Assembly of Experts as Supreme Leader in early March 2026 following the February 28 assassination of his father, Ali Khamenei, during initial U.S.-Israeli strikes that also injured Mojtaba. He has remained in hiding since, communicating through couriers from an undisclosed location amid ongoing regional conflict, with U.S. intelligence noting limited access to officials and slowed diplomatic efforts. Recent statements issued via state media address nuclear policy, Strait of Hormuz access, and opposition to foreign bases, while reports highlight his wounds and security vulnerabilities as a designated target. These factors, alongside internal regime cohesion under IRGC influence and external pressure from sanctions or negotiations, shape assessments of whether he might depart Iran within any resolution window.