Supreme Leader

While reports on his condition continue to contradict each other, the prolonged absence of Iran's leader from the public arena leaves the system in Tehran dependent on written statements and interpretations by senior officials.

The Iranian news agency "Mehr" has published a video of Iran's leader Mojtaba Khamenei for the first time since he took office. The release comes amid reports of his serious health condition and prolonged public absence.

Masoud Pezeshkian hinted at rifts in the regime's leadership and spoke of disagreements surrounding strategic decisions. At the same time, he attacked Israel and the USA, claiming: "They tried to conquer Iran like Syria."

The Iranian daily newspaper Al-Mashari, affiliated with the Tehran municipality, has revealed why no audio recordings of Mojtaba Khamenei have been released to date. The primary concern is that intelligence services could analyze audio files to pinpoint his exact location.

Months after inheriting his father's position, the new Supreme Leader of Iran is neither seen nor heard in public – only written messages, no voice, no appearance. How can one rule a country in a totalitarian manner when the people do not see their leader, and what do Western intelligence reports say about his physical and mental state? Beni Sabti, an Iran researcher at the INSS, explains who is...