Mojtaba Khamenei Assumes Supreme Leadership of Iran After Father's Death in March Strikes

Mojtaba Khamenei is directing Iran’s negotiations with the US from an unknown hideout, multiple sources familiar with US intelligence reports told CNN. The 56-year-old took over as supreme leader in March after US and Israeli strikes that killed his father Ali Khamenei. He has not been seen or heard since his appointment.

Khamenei was badly disfigured and lost a leg during the strikes that started the war. He is believed to have bad burns on his face, arm, torso and leg on one side of his body. US intelligence also believes he is probably gay.

The cleric is not using any electronics. He interacts with senior leaders only face to face or by sending messages via a courier. Despite these constraints, he has been involved in decisions to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officials are running the day-to-day operations inside Tehran. People close to Mojtaba Khamenei's inner circle described him as still mentally sharp. They said he was meeting with senior Islamic Republic officials and helping to make decisions on the Pakistani-mediated peace talks.

State media has read written statements attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei on three occasions since he took over. The first reports of US intelligence sources describing his condition and role appeared in a CNN article. " Hosseini claimed a small piece of shrapnel had hit Khamenei behind the ear.

He said the enemy is spreading rumors and false claims and that Khamenei will speak when the time is right. Masoud Pezeshkian claimed on Thursday that he recently met with Mojtaba Khamenei for more than two hours. "What struck me most during this meeting was the vision and the humble and sincere approach of the supreme leader of the Islamic Revolution," Pezeshkian said according to Iranian state media.