Mojtaba Khamenei has served as Iran's Supreme Leader since his appointment by the Assembly of Experts on March 8, 2026, following the February 28 assassination of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in U.S.-Israeli strikes that opened an ongoing conflict. Since then, he has issued more than two dozen written statements on topics including the war, economy, and religious occasions, but no authenticated photographs, videos, or audio recordings of public appearances have emerged. Iranian officials attribute the absence to security concerns and describe a more collective decision-making structure involving senior figures, while releasing indirect claims of his activity such as meetings with President Masoud Pezeshkian and disputed family accounts of sightings at the July funeral proceedings. Recent statements from officials in September and early October 2026 have reiterated his health and involvement without providing visual confirmation. Scheduled religious or state events through year-end could create opportunities for an appearance, though the pattern of written-only communication and emphasis on secure operations has shaped trader assessments of the timeline.