Axios: CIA And Mossad Try To Solve The Mystery Of Mojtaba Khamenei's Absence
- 21.03.2026, 18:00
No word on his whereabouts.
US and Israeli intelligence agencies, namely the CIA and Mossad, are trying to solve the "mystery" of the long absence of the new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei from public appearances. This is reported by Axios, citing intelligence and US officials.
The US and Israel both have intelligence indicating that Mojtaba Khamenei is alive - for example, there is evidence of attempts by Iranian officials to organize personal meetings with him, although unsuccessfully for security reasons, the portal writes.
According to his information, the issue of the "mystery" of the Iranian leader's absence has been raised several times in special briefings by intelligence officials for US President Donald Trump. His national security team is still trying to figure out who is really in control in Tehran, a US official told Axios.
A high-ranking Israeli official, for his part, admitted to the publication that his country's intelligence services have no proof that Mojtaba Khamenei is the one giving orders.
"It's just incredibly strange. We don't think the Iranians would go to all this trouble to pick a dead man as supreme leader, but at the same time we have no evidence that he led the country," the U.S. official added.
The CIA, Mossad and other intelligence agencies around the world were watching to see if the new Iranian leader would address the nation on the occasion of the Nowruz holiday, the publication said. The holiday occurs at the vernal equinox on March 21 and is celebrated as the beginning of the new year according to the astronomical solar calendar.
One video message on the occasion of Nowruz was published by Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, Axios notes. Mojtaba Khamenei's Telegram channel, on the other hand, posted a written message calling for unity, as well as several photos of the new supreme leader.
The CIA is now trying to determine whether the photos are fresh, a U.S. official noted. "We expected to see Mojtaba in some form. He did not take advantage of the opportunity and tradition," he said, calling it a "serious red flag."
Mojtaba Khamenei was elected Iran's new supreme leader after the death of his predecessor and father Ali Khamenei in a U.S.-Israeli operation. His first public address was released on March 12, but the new supreme leader has never made a public appearance in two weeks.
The Pentagon reported that Mojtaba Khamenei was "wounded and probably disfigured." Trump, for his part, expressed doubts that the man was alive.