Six months after a series of airstrikes launched the current conflict and elevated Mojtaba Khamenei to Iran’s supreme leadership amid severe injuries, the country remains without any direct public appearances or communications from him. This absence has generated increasing uncertainty about his condition and authority during a critical period for Iran.

Since his appointment in the early days of the war, no official photographs, videos, or audio messages of Mojtaba Khamenei have been released, a departure from the standard practice in Iran’s theocratic system where the supreme leader’s presence is considered central and unequivocal. His only communications have been limited to written statements read by state broadcasters.

Despite the lack of public visibility, Iranian officials and senior sources claim that Khamenei continues to exercise control, directing government affairs from behind the scenes while recovering from serious wounds. They say he delegates day-to-day responsibilities to a close group of senior figures but remains involved in major decisions. President Masoud Pezeshkian, for instance, reported a seven-hour meeting with Khamenei on August 10. Top officials suggest ongoing security concerns, including assassination threats, explain the leader’s absence from public view, including his notable no-show at the funeral ceremonies for his father last month.

Nonetheless, doubts about his role are becoming more widespread among Iranians. Hardline supporters and members of the Basij volunteer militia have expressed a desire for tangible evidence of his leadership to bolster confidence amid the conflict. Opposition and reform-minded individuals have voiced stronger skepticism, with some questioning whether Khamenei is still alive and actively making decisions, citing the lack of direct signs of his involvement.

Iran is grappling with significant domestic challenges linked to the ongoing war, including a deteriorating economy. The conflict has triggered a sustained blockade of Iranian oil exports, causing the national currency, the rial, to plummet and exacerbating economic instability. These conditions raise concerns about the potential resurgence of mass protests similar to those earlier this year, when security forces violently suppressed demonstrators.

In response, Iran’s political establishment has prioritized preserving state stability, restoring deterrence capabilities, and mitigating economic damage. The leadership appears focused on maintaining internal cohesion amid the heightened pressures generated by the war and the country’s fragile economic state.