Mojtaba Khamenei's whereabouts defended by Iran's President

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has dismissed international speculation regarding the whereabouts of Mojtaba Khamenei, the current Supreme Leader of Iran. Pezeshkian confirmed that Mojtaba Khamenei is alive and performing his duties, accusing the United States and Israel of spreading rumors because they have been unable to determine his exact location.

The current leadership follows a February 28 strike by the US and Israel on the previous Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s compound, which killed both Ali Khamenei and his wife, Zahra Haddad-Adel.

In recent interviews republished by state-aligned media, family members of the late Zahra Haddad-Adel have attempted to humanize Mojtaba Khamenei. Farideddin Haddad Adel described him as having diverse interests in technology, start-ups, psychology, and film, noting a familiarity with the work of director Christopher Nolan. Other family accounts claim he lives a simple lifestyle, is diligent in learning foreign languages, and has spent approximately 25 years in security, military, and political roles.