FT: Iran projects image of Mojtaba Khamenei steering state power behind scenes

Iranian authorities are attempting to project an image that Mojtaba Khamenei is in stable condition and actively involved in governing the country, following months of uncertainty about the Supreme Leader’s health and whereabouts, according to the Financial Times (FT).

The report claims that as speculation intensified, Iranian officials gradually began issuing updates intended to suggest that he is both in good health and fully in control of state affairs. 

These statements are aimed at reinforcing the perception that he is personally overseeing key decisions, including potential negotiations with the United States over a ceasefire agreement, nuclear talks, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Mazaher Hosseini, a cleric who serves as head of protocol in the supreme leader’s office, stated this month that Khamenei survived the strikes that killed his father, wife, and other relatives because he had been just outside the targeted building at the time.

“He was on the way, about to go up the stairs when a missile hit . . . Ayatollah Mojtaba was hit by the blast wave and thrown to the ground,” Hosseini said. “His kneecap and back were slightly injured. His back has recovered during this time, and the knee will soon recover.”

“You need to be patient,”  Hosseini added. “He will come and make speeches for you when the time comes.”

According to the outlet, Iranian officials have become more open in addressing questions about leadership amid criticism from hardline conservative factions opposed to concessions, as well as to counter claims that real power is increasingly concentrated within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Analysts cited in the report argue that uncertainty over Khamenei’s health is likely to persist as long as Iranian leadership views the risk of conflict or assassination attempts as high, with one expert noting that decision-makers want to avoid rapid leadership turnover and ensure continuity under external threats.

By Jeyhun Aghazada