Mystery Deepens Around Iran Supreme Leader: Abbas Araghchi Says He Hasn't Met Mojtaba Khamenei Yet

Questions over existence of Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei have grown after Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi revealed that he has not yet met him in person since he succeeded his father, former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following his death in a US-Israel strike on February 28.

Speaking to Iran’s Mehr news agency on Sunday, Araghchi said only a handful of people have met Mojtaba since he assumed Iran’s highest office.

“Only a very small number of people have met with him,” Araghchi said when asked whether he had met the new Supreme Leader.

Araghchi says security vulnerability remains

The remarks come days after Araghchi said the security breach that enabled the assassination of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has still not been fully addressed.

In an interview with

Al Arabiya, the Iranian foreign minister said the attack on Khamenei’s residence during the opening phase of the war was made possible because those behind the strike had detailed knowledge of the former Supreme Leader’s daily routine and the timing of high-level government meetings.

“They knew that the Leader (Ali Khamenei) was in the office every morning. As I understand it, the command center meeting was also being held two or three buildings away, and they chose exactly that moment. The Intelligence Ministry’s meeting was also taking place at that time,” Araghchi said.

According to him, the strike succeeded because of a security lapse that remains unresolved.

“Therefore, the attack on the Leader’s office happened because of a security vulnerability, and that vulnerability probably still exists,” he said.

Mojtaba remains out of public view

Mojtaba Khamenei has remained out of public sight for months since the war began on February 28, when former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. His prolonged absence has fuelled speculation over when he will make his first public appearance after taking over the country’s top post.

According to a report by i24NEWS English, Mojtaba is expected to remain out of sight for the duration of the war with the United States. The report comes as Iran and the US continue exchanging missile and drone attacks.

Mojtaba Khamenei has also reportedly been recovering from injuries sustained in an airstrike. He was absent from his father’s funeral ceremonies held earlier this month in Iran and Iraq, where funeral prayers were led by three of his brothers.

Trump on Mojtaba

US President Donald Trump last week claimed Iran had lost its navy, air force, air defence systems and senior military commanders during the conflict. “They have no navy. They have no air force. It’s all gone. Their anti-aircraft is gone. Their leaders have all been killed,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News.

He also claimed Iran had lost its top leadership during the war. “Their best leaders have been killed. They’re gone. Khomeini is gone,” Trump said, apparently referring to former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Referring to Mojtaba Khamenei, Trump added, “His son is 90% gone.”