Mojtaba Khamenei was selected by Iran's Assembly of Experts as Supreme Leader on March 9, 2026, days after his father Ali Khamenei's death in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes that opened the 2026 Iran war. He has issued statements via state media on issues including Strait of Hormuz policy and regional retaliation but has made no verified public appearances, amid reports of facial and leg injuries from the initial strikes and ongoing security threats. His location remains undisclosed, with the regime emphasizing continuity of hardline governance through the IRGC and clerical institutions despite internal divisions and wartime pressures. No confirmed departures or exiles have occurred, though the active conflict and leadership transition create structural risks for physical relocation tied to personal safety or regime stability.