Iran's Mojtaba Khamenei appears in public in new video after long absence

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has appeared in a newly released video after a prolonged absence from public view, drawing fresh attention to his whereabouts and activities amid the country’s wartime situation.

Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency published the video on its Telegram channel on Saturday. It shows Mojtaba Khamenei surrounded by several people and speaking with those around him.

However, Mehr did not disclose when or where the footage was recorded, nor did it identify the people accompanying him. The authenticity and recency of the video could therefore not be independently verified.

Mojtaba Khamenei had largely remained out of public view since the conflict began, prompting speculation over his security, whereabouts and health.

The latest developments followed reported US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, which killed then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with senior Iranian military officials and civilians, according to reports.

Iran responded with a series of missile and drone attacks targeting US and Israeli military facilities and other strategic sites across the region.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late supreme leader, was selected by Iran’s Assembly of Experts as the country’s new supreme leader in early March, according to the information provided.

His prolonged absence from public view had fuelled uncertainty over his role and location during the conflict. The release of the new footage has now renewed international interest in his current activities, although the circumstances surrounding the video remain unclear.