Is the new Khamenei alive and who really runs Iran – The Times

More than five months have passed since Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the position of Supreme Leader of Iran, but he remains an 'invisible man': there is no video, audio, or text address. The CIA and Mossad have joined forces in a secret operation to locate him and determine who actually governs the country. The younger Khamenei has completely abandoned electronics, reportedly hiding in an underground bunker. Intelligence agencies have no proof that he is alive and in control of power.

More than five months have passed since Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the position of Supreme Leader of Iran, yet the new rahbar remains an absolute 'invisible man' to the world community. During this time, not a single video address, official audio recording, or text statement has appeared. According to The Times, the CIA and Mossad have joined forces in an unprecedented secret operation to determine his whereabouts and find out who actually manages the state apparatus. The younger Khamenei has completely abandoned the use of electronic devices, minimizing his digital footprint. According to one version, he is hiding in a deeply echeloned underground bunker near Qom or at another military facility, fearing precision strikes. Senior officials admit that intelligence has no ironclad evidence that the new rahbar is alive and actually controls power. One American source described the situation as 'beyond strange.' The information vacuum complicates the assessment of geopolitical risks: it remains a mystery who makes key decisions on the nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz, and pro-Iranian groups. The operation aims to map his hidden communications, not to eliminate him.