Israeli analysts question authority of Iran’s new supreme leader “Empty entity”

Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been described by Israeli national security sources as lacking real authority, amid continued uncertainty over the country’s leadership following the death of his father.

Mojtaba, the son of Ali Khamenei, assumed the role after his father was killed in a targeted Israeli strike on February 28, according to Israeli officials. Israeli defence analyst Kobi Michael, affiliated with the Institute for National Security Studies and the Misgav Institute, cast doubt on the new leader’s influence.

"The new leader is an empty entity," Michael told Fox News Digital. "Mojtaba Khamenei does not appear in public, but we also have reliable information that he does not control or lead the regime or what has been left of the regime.

"The current Iranian leadership is broken, confused and is almost misfunctioning," he added. 

Reports have suggested that Mojtaba narrowly escaped the February 28 strike that killed his father, allegedly leaving the compound shortly before the missile attack. According to leaked audio accessed by The Telegraph, reportedly from a March 12 meeting, several members of the Khamenei family were also killed in the strike.

In the recording, Mazaher Hosseini, identified as head of protocol for Khamenei’s office, is allegedly heard telling senior leaders that Mojtaba sustained "a minor injury to his leg."

Since being named supreme leader, Mojtaba has not made a public appearance. Instead, a message attributed to him was read on Iranian state television, warning of continued strikes and urging Gulf countries to close U.S. military bases.

Other reports have claimed that Mojtaba was in critical condition or even in a coma. Iranian officials, however, have denied those claims, insisting that the new supreme leader is in good health.

By Sabina Mammadli