Video of Mojtaba Khamenei Released by Iranian State Media
On Thursday, Iranian state media shared an undated video featuring Mojtaba Khamenei, the current “supreme leader’s” son, who is supposedly participating in a “religious science” class. The video was published by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) on its English-language social media accounts.
The origins of the video remain unclear, as it lacks any information on when or where it was shot. Interestingly, the video’s quality suggests that it might be several years old, although it’s edited in a way that implies a level of professionalism, rather than a simple cell phone recording.
No translation accompanied the video, but someone other than young Khamenei can be heard speaking German. Reportedly, Ayatollah Khamenei is said to be quite busy, and the video features Arabic as opposed to Persian.
On February 28, President Donald Trump announced the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, revealing that Iran’s long-time “supreme leader,” Ayatollah Khamenei, had been removed. Following this announcement, the remnants of the Iranian government declared Mojtaba Khamenei as the new leader, which raised skepticism worldwide since he has not been seen publicly since, and there’s been no evidence of his existence. Interestingly, Khamenei has never held any public office or demonstrated governmental experience.
Rather than showing up in person, the Iranian government conducted a ceremony to pledge loyalty to Mojtaba Khamenei, encouraging crowds to celebrate with framed portraits of him, which sparked international unrest.
On March 9, the Iranian leadership announced Mojtaba’s appointment. However, he hadn’t appeared on camera yet. It took him three days to provide a written statement, narrated by state media, which focused heavily on the idea of “revenge,” and specifically mentioned the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed.
Days later, Iran’s UN ambassador, Amir Saeed Iravani, countered this by stating, “We have no intention of closing the Strait of Hormuz,” thus casting doubt on whether Mojtaba Khamenei is indeed in control.
With no clear explanation of Khamenei’s situation, various unverified reports have surfaced suggesting he may be dealing with several issues. Some claim he was injured in the airstrike that killed his father, while others suggest he lacks the capability to govern due to personal attributes. It’s even claimed that Ali Khamenei deemed his son “not very bright” and was hesitant to pass on leadership to him. While no confirmation has come from either the Iranian or American governments, many have shared jokes online about Khamenei due to these rumors. The recently released IRIB video also drew a range of mockery regarding Khamenei’s alleged traits.
Trump has commented on the young Khamenei multiple times. Before he was officially named “Supreme Leader,” he warned that the “Assembly of Experts” should not select him, dismissing him as “frivolous” and insisting that Washington should play a role in the decision. In response to rumors about Khamenei’s health and other concerns, Trump remarked that he believed Khamenei is “alive in some form.”
Experts suggest that Khamenei may simply be a figurehead without real authority, as the military and terror operations remain under the control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S.
Defense expert Kobi Michael noted, “Although Mojtaba Khamenei does not appear in public, credible indications arise that he is no longer directing the regime.” Another analyst, Shayan Samii, mentioned, “The actual decisions are made within the security apparatus,” indicating that the Revolutionary Guards hold the real power.
Despite ongoing threats from Iranian leaders since Ali Khamenei’s passing, most military activities have focused on missile strikes against neighboring Arab countries, particularly Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Recently, Armed Forces Spokesman Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi indicated that Iran may start targeting “tourist and recreational destinations around the world.”
