'Mysterious Man in Black Cap and Mask'... Speculation Over Mojtaba's Whereabouts After 4 Months in Hiding

Has Not Appeared in Public Since Becoming Supreme Leader
Man Wearing Hat and Mask Spotted at Private Funeral
Speculation Swirls Over His Whereabouts
"Unlikely to Establish Full Control"

At the funeral of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, a man with his face covered by a mask was captured on camera, sparking suspicions that this man might be Iran's new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, in disguise.

On February 28, at the funeral of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who died in a U.S. and Israeli airstrike, a man with his face covered by a mask became a topic of attention. Photo from Iran state television broadcast.

On July 10 (local time), CNN and other media outlets reported that during a private ceremony attended only by Ayatollah Khamenei's family and close associates, a man wearing a black baseball cap and a mask, covering most of his face, was seen standing among key attendees on state television footage. Speculation spread locally that this man could be Mojtaba Khamenei. Posts comparing the physique, glasses, and clothing of the masked man to Mojtaba were also shared on social networking services (SNS). However, it was later reported that Reza Mousavi Baez, an Iranian cleric, stated via SNS that he was the man in the video.

Mohsen Milani, an Iran expert and professor, told CNN in an interview, "Considering the serious intelligence failures Iran experienced during the war, Mojtaba making a public appearance could expose him to the risk of assassination."

However, CNN noted that Mojtaba's absence from such a symbolic event as the Supreme Leader's funeral has only fueled further speculation.

After his father, Ayatollah Khamenei, was killed in a U.S. and Israeli airstrike at the end of February, Mojtaba assumed the position of Supreme Leader but has not made any public appearances for four months. The Supreme Leader of Iran holds ultimate authority over military command as well as final decision-making in diplomatic and security matters. However, despite the ongoing war, Mojtaba has only issued written statements and has not made any public speeches or appearances. As his period of hiding has lengthened, rumors have circulated that Mojtaba was seriously injured or even killed during the U.S. airstrike.

Ali Ansari, an Iran expert at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, explained, "When the Supreme Leader does not appear publicly, there is no way for the people to know what decisions are actually being made. This naturally leads to a proliferation of rumors and conspiracy theories."

Pro-government figures in Iran have claimed that Mojtaba paid tribute to his father along with other mourners while concealing his identity. However, they have not provided any objective evidence that Mojtaba actually attended the funeral.

Experts analyze that if Mojtaba continues to remain out of public view for an extended period, he is likely to face difficulties in establishing his authority as Supreme Leader. Ali Alfoneh, a researcher at the Arab Gulf States Institute, a Middle East think tank, predicted, "While he has inherited the organization and authority as Supreme Leader, it will take at least 4 to 8 years to establish the same level of authority and control as his father."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.