Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has appeared in a video for the first time since the end of the recent war, with the footage showing him sitting among people and speaking to them. The video was released by Iran’s Mehr news agency and has attracted attention because Mojtaba had largely remained out of public view since becoming the country’s Supreme Leader. However, Iranian authorities have not revealed when the video was recorded, leaving questions about his current condition and whereabouts.

Mojtaba’s appearance comes after several days of speculation about his health. Israeli Channel 14, citing sources, had claimed that his condition was serious and that he had been hospitalised. Some reports had even suggested that his health had deteriorated to the point where his death could be imminent. The newly released footage appears to challenge at least some of those claims, although it does not provide enough information to independently establish his current medical condition. Mojtaba can be seen seated among a group of people and interacting with them, but there is no detailed information about the circumstances in which the video was recorded.

Questions about his whereabouts had also intensified because Mojtaba had not appeared publicly after taking over as Iran’s Supreme Leader. He had not delivered a televised address or made a public speech, while Iranian state media had mainly published written messages in his name. According to reports in Iranian media, he also did not meet ministers publicly after the death of his father and former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He was reportedly absent from his father’s funeral as well. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had previously acknowledged that establishing direct contact with Mojtaba was difficult.

Saudi media outlet Al Hadath had earlier reported, citing an Israeli security source, that Mojtaba was not in Iran at the time. The report also claimed that official statements issued in his name were being prepared by senior officials, including newly appointed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Ahmad Vahidi. These claims have not been independently verified, and Iranian authorities have continued to reject speculation surrounding Mojtaba’s health.

There had been similar reports earlier about injuries allegedly suffered by Mojtaba during US-Israeli strikes on February 28. Some Israeli media reports claimed that he had been seriously injured and was receiving treatment at a secret location. A New York Times report had also said that doctors were treating him at a secure site and that he had undergone multiple surgeries. Claims included serious injuries to one leg, with speculation that he might require an artificial limb, as well as surgery on one of his hands. Reports also suggested injuries to his face and lips that could have affected his ability to speak. Iranian officials rejected those claims and said that Mojtaba had not suffered serious injuries.

The latest video therefore becomes significant mainly because of the limited public information available about the new Supreme Leader. It shows Mojtaba alive and apparently interacting with people, but the footage alone does not establish when it was filmed or provide a complete picture of his health. The lack of a date and details surrounding the recording means that earlier questions about his public absence may not be completely resolved.

Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is the second son of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He became Iran’s Supreme Leader following his father’s death. Before taking the top position, Mojtaba maintained a relatively low public profile but was widely described as an influential figure behind the scenes. He never contested an election and did not hold a formal government position, yet he was believed to have strong connections with his father’s office, the IRGC and Iran’s security establishment.

Mojtaba served with the IRGC during the later period of the Iran-Iraq War and later studied Shia theology and Islamic law in Qom. His name also emerged during the political unrest that followed Iran’s 2009 presidential election. In 2019, the United States imposed sanctions on him, alleging that he exercised influence and represented his father despite holding no elected office.

The emergence of the new footage is likely to fuel further discussion about Mojtaba’s health, security arrangements and role in Iran’s post-war leadership. For now, the video provides a rare public glimpse of the new Supreme Leader, but many details surrounding his recent absence remain unclear.