Iran's Designated Leader Remains in Hiding as Power Centers Vie for Control

Mojtaba Khamenei, appointed supreme leader in March 2026 after his father's death in a February airstrike, has not appeared publicly since then, reportedly due to Israeli threats. His absence during Ali Khamenei's funeral week creates a functional vacuum at Iran's apex. The Khomeinist system requires a visible, authoritative clerical figure. Without Mojtaba, the IRGC and Guardian Council are filling the leadership gap independently, fragmenting decision-making during military transition.