The mysterious absence of Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has sparked a diplomatic firestorm, with U.S. President Donald Trump questioning whether he is even alive. Following the assassination of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on February 28, Mojtaba was formally announced as the successor on March 8. However, a week into his leadership, he has not made a single public appearance, leading President Trump to voice skepticism about the stability and survival of the Iranian regime’s new head.

In a candid interview on Saturday, President Trump remarked, “I have my doubts as to whether Mojtaba Khamenei is even alive. So far, no one has been able to provide any conclusive proof of his presence. I am hearing rumors that he may not be with us anymore.” Trump further stated that if the leader is indeed alive, he should perform a “smart move” for his country by surrendering. Echoing these sentiments, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that the new leader was likely “wounded and disfigured” in the initial strikes, which might explain why the regime has only released written statements instead of video messages.

While Iranian state media aired a written message attributed to Mojtaba on March 12—calling for continued resistance and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—the lack of audio or visual evidence has failed to quell rumors of his incapacitation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has dismissed these reports as “baseless,” asserting that the Supreme Leader is well and performing his duties from a secure location. However, with the war entering its 15th day and Israel continuing its precision strikes on Tehran, the “invisible” status of Mojtaba Khamenei remains a significant psychological blow to the Iranian leadership, leaving the world wondering who is truly at the helm in Tehran.