US Believes Iran's New Supreme Leader May Be Dead

• 15.03.2026, 21:03

He doesn't appear in public.

US authorities have expressed doubts that Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is really leading the country and admit the possibility that he may be dead. This was stated by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, CNN reported.

"It is unclear whether he is really in control of the country, if he is even alive at this point," the diplomat said. He added that US President Donald Trump has also expressed displeasure with Iran's new leader, describing Mojtaba Khamenei as "an incredibly radical person, a radical cleric."

Trump himself had earlier questioned whether the new ayatollah was alive. In an interview with NBC News, he emphasized that Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public since taking office.