Mojtaba Khamenei was selected by Iran's Assembly of Experts as supreme leader in early March 2026 following the February 28 assassination of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during U.S.-Israeli strikes. His subsequent absence from public view, with statements issued only in writing or via state media, has intensified trader focus on potential departure from Iran. Speculation centers on possible injuries sustained in the initial attacks, prompting unconfirmed reports of medical evacuation abroad, alongside regime efforts to project continuity through written directives on issues like Strait of Hormuz management. Ongoing regional conflict and internal security pressures remain the main factors that could prompt an exit or influence timing within any resolution window.