Iran and the mystery of Mojtaba, the invisible leader: why did he have the message read on TV?

In the midst of the conflict, the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Mojtaba Khamenei, delivered his first address as Supreme Leader to the state broadcaster, but he did so as an "invisible" figure.

Millions of Iranians tuned in to hear the successor of the late Ali Khamenei and were faced with a surreal scene: no live images, no original audio, only a text read by the news anchor.

The choice of an impersonal reading for the first statement of the "third Leader" of the Iranian system has opened an international enigma. Several observers and foreign media highlight the absence of an “audiovisual proof of life” as a possible signal of critical issues related to health or security.

The hypothesis, cautiously put forward, is that Mojtaba may have been injured or is recovering after the attacks that hit Tehran and other strategic infrastructures. A theatrical coldness that sharply contrasts with March 1, 2026, when the “martyrdom” death of his father was announced in tears on Press TV, confirming the role of state television as a stage for power.

On the content front, however, the line dictated by the message appeared rock-solid. Lacking substantial news but consistent with Tehran's war rhetoric, the text promised “revenge” and reiterated the uncompromising stance towards Washington and Tel Aviv.

Four key points were emphasized in the video: unwavering resistance; threat to use the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic lever; continuation of attacks against U.S. bases in the region until their closure; demand for compensations at the end of the conflict. A communication clearly calibrated for the domestic front, aimed at reassuring the religious-military hard core.

In the days prior, the system had displayed cohesion: the Assembly of Experts had appointed him, the Revolutionary Guard had sworn “total obedience”, and government media showed nighttime rallies in his support. An explicit attempt to project the image of a painless transition.