What Role Does The Wounded Khamenei Now Play In Iran?

• 9.05.2026, 10:52

U.S. Intelligence explained.

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who became Iran's new supreme leader in March 2026, plays a major role in the development of Iranian military strategy. About it writes CNN with reference to anonymous sources in the U.S. intelligence.

According to CNN, together with Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's military strategy is now being developed by several other individuals, but their names are not mentioned.

American journalists' sources say that Iran's new supreme leader is also very likely to determine the course of negotiations with the United States on the terms of ending the war.

CNN emphasized that the political situation in Iran is not very clear at the moment. U.S. President Donald Trump believes there is no unity among Iranian leaders on the terms of ending the war with the United States, which is why he unilaterally extended the truce on April 22 (to give Iranian leaders time to come to a unified decision).

Mojtaba Khamenei was elected Iran's supreme leader in March 2026 after his father Ali Khamenei, who held the post for many years, died during the war with the US and Israel.

Since then, Mojtaba has never shown his face in public. Media reports claim that he is seriously injured. For example, according to The Times insider, Mojtaba is being treated in Qom, which is a holy city for Shiites. He has been unconscious for a long time.

Iranian state media report that Iran's new supreme leader is fine. They occasionally post his messages to Iranians and to the US. They also claim he is holding meetings with senior Iranian officials.