Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen in public for six months — Reuters

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen in public for six months, Reuters reports, despite the outbreak of war with Israel and the United States.

Iranian officials and senior sources interviewed by Reuters said Khamenei was operating in secret for security reasons and continued to make important decisions in the country. But the lack of a photo, video or audio of him has fueled domestic suspicions about his health and role in state affairs.

Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed supreme leader in the early days of the war after the assassination of his father, former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. According to Reuters sources, his face was seriously injured in Israeli and US air strikes on February 28. He has not been seen in public since.

Iranian officials say Khamenei is being kept hidden from the public for security reasons. Sources close to him say the supreme leader holds regular meetings with senior officials, receives important reports and makes the final decision on key issues in the country.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on August 10 that he had a seven-hour meeting with Khamenei. Khamenei's public statements have so far been limited to a few written statements read out on television.

Some Iranians Reuters spoke to, including government supporters, said the Supreme Leader's long absence from public view was having a negative impact on the country's morale. A member of the Basij militia in the city of Qom said hearing the leader's voice or seeing some sign that he was in charge would give people confidence.

Meanwhile, some Iranians opposed to the government are questioning the lack of clear evidence that Khamenei is alive and making important decisions.

The war has also taken a serious toll on Iran's economy. The rial has plummeted against the backdrop of months of blockades on the country's oil exports and the cost of the war. According to Reuters sources, this situation raises the risk of a resurgence of mass protests that were violently suppressed in January.

Iran's political system, however, has remained functional despite the loss of the supreme leader and senior military commanders. According to sources, since the start of the war, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has gained greater influence in the country's strategic decision-making process.

In addition to senior military commanders, President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqir Qaliboff also occupy important positions in the current power structure. Iranian officials have cited the country's continued foreign policy and major decisions as a sign that Khamenei is in control.

A source told Reuters that Khamenei's health is improving significantly, and he is aware of the situation and participating in decision-making. But experts say his prolonged absence from public view could create dangerous political uncertainty.

Khamenei, who was absent from his father's funeral in July, has raised questions about his whereabouts and involvement in the country's governance. On August 8, the Mehr news agency released the first video of him appearing in public.