Six months after the US and Israel launched a war that thrust a severely wounded Mojtaba Khamenei into the position of Iran’s supreme leader, he remains entirely unseen and unheard by the public, leaving a void at the heart of state leadership.

Uncertainty surrounding his health and role is growing increasingly tense as Iran faces major decisions over a war spreading across the Middle East while damaging its fragile economy.

Iranian officials and senior sources say Khamenei remains in charge, ruling secretly for security reasons while recovering from disfiguring wounds and delegating daily responsibilities to key figures.

Yet without photos, videos, or audio messages released since his appointment during the war’s first week, Iranians are increasingly doubtful about his standing in a system where the leader’s voice is meant to be absolute.

“The question is no longer whether Mojtaba is alive, but whether Iran still has a functioning supreme leader,” said Alex Vatanka of the Middle East Institute in Washington.

Khamenei’s only public messages have been written statements read by news anchors, and he was noticeably absent from his father’s week-long funeral ceremonies last month.

Key officials attribute his absence to fears of assassination, maintaining that he meets regularly with top figures, reviews major reports, and makes final decisions on critical issues.

President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on August 10 that he held a seven-hour meeting with Khamenei.

Doubt creeps in for Iranians

Even among hardline supporters of the Islamic Republic, doubts are spreading.

“We need to hear our leader’s voice, or see any sign that he is there on top and leading the country to give us more confidence,” said a member of the Basij volunteer militia in Qom, the country’s religious hub.

While the militia member, speaking anonymously, believed Khamenei was still deciding policy, he noted that the lack of visual proof was damaging morale and harming Iran’s interests.

For opponents of the regime and reform advocates, the view is sharper.

“How do we know that Mojtaba has not been killed?” asked Shahrokh, a pro-reform businessman in Tehran who requested anonymity.

“It is not logical that there is not a single sign proving he is alive, let alone evidence that he is involved in decision-making,” he added.

Revolutionary Guards key to power structure

Iran has survived six months of war with powerful enemies, damaged but intact. Its political infrastructure has held, and its military can still threaten global energy routes and hit U.S. regional allies.

The clerical ruling class has shown it can absorb the loss of its supreme leader and top commanders without collapse, maintaining a loyal military and political hierarchy.

However, Iran’s economy is straining under war costs and an oil blockade that has crushed the rial, threatening a return of mass protests crushed by authorities in January.

Meanwhile, the leadership has aligned around one primary goal: protect the state, restore deterrence, and limit economic instability.

The Revolutionary Guards have gained further power since the war began, remaining central to strategy under the Supreme National Security Council, sources said.

That leadership circle includes top Guards commanders alongside senior political figures like Pezeshkian and parliament speaker Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf.

Several Iranian sources said Khamenei regularly meets with these top officials, participates in deliberations, and holds final decision-making power.

A senior official said only a tiny group has direct physical access to Khamenei, with no details released to prevent leaks that could allow the U.S. to target him.

Claims about supreme leader’s health

His health is improving noticeably, according to a source close to his circle, who described him as alert and actively engaged.

“Despite all the pressures, services to the people have not stopped. Our foreign policy line is unified and our decisions are coherent. All of this shows the supreme leader is in charge,” a second official said.

Before the war, Khamenei preferred an off-screen role as his father’s chief aide, avoiding public attention. Senior sources say air strikes by Israel and the U.S. on February 28 that killed his father left him with facial disfigurement.

Yet after ascending to an office viewed as carrying divine guidance during a national crisis, such justifications appear insufficient.

“A genuine deal with Washington requires Mojtaba’s unmistakable approval and so does any decision to sustain a long and costly conflict with the United States,” said Vatanka.

“His prolonged absence has created a dangerous situation in which rival factions can all claim to know what the leader really wants,” he added.