Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been in office for three days following the passing of his father but has yet to make a public appearance or release any direct written statements. Reports indicate that at a recent large gathering in Tehran, Mojtaba appeared in the form of a cardboard cutout, sparking mockery.
Since being elected as the new supreme leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader Khamenei, has not made a public appearance. Recent circulating footage in Iranian media shows a short video of about half a minute featuring only his static photos and a brief biography.
Regarding Mojtaba’s absence from the public eye and lack of statements, Iranian Ambassador to Cyprus Alireza Salarian explained the reasons in a media interview on March 11. Salarian told the British newspaper “The Guardian” that Mojtaba was injured during the targeted operation against his father on February 28 by the US-Israel joint forces. This operation resulted in the death of the elder Khamenei and five of his family members, including Mojtaba’s wife and son. Salarian mentioned Mojtaba was also present at the scene and got injured, stating, “I heard he suffered injuries to his legs, hands, and arms… He is in the hospital because he got hurt.”
According to reports from CNN, Mojtaba suffered a broken foot, bruising around his left eye, and facial cuts from the operation.
A senior Iranian official disclosed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forcefully propelled Mojtaba to the forefront to become the supreme leader because they believed he could support their hardline policies.
Sources within the Iranian establishment informed Reuters that the IRGC meticulously orchestrated the election. Due to the destruction of the original meeting place by Israel, the Assembly of Experts responsible for appointing the leader had to convene in a secret location, with some members unable to vote due to communication disruptions.
An unnamed reformist former official revealed that the IRGC threatened critics of Mojtaba, ultimately forcing Assembly members to support him. The selection of Mojtaba by the IRGC was based on their perception that he would be more “controllable” than his father, aiding in the Guard’s complete control over domestic and foreign policies.
Israeli Defense Minister Katz previously stated that whoever replaces Khamenei would become a target. US President Trump expressed discontent with Mojtaba’s succession but did not respond to whether the US was attempting to assassinate him.
“Currently, Mojtaba is more focused on staying alive than governing the country,” said Karim Sadjadpour, a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, citing a source familiar with Mojtaba for CNN.
During a recent large gathering at Revolution Square in Tehran, despite Mojtaba’s absence, a life-size cardboard cutout of him was “airdropped” onto the stage. According to British media outlet “Metro,” broadcasting Iranian media SNN TV’s footage, the square was crowded with people waving Iranian flags and chanting slogans while displaying photos of the late Khamenei and the new supreme leader Mojtaba.
Surprisingly, a cardboard cutout representing Mojtaba, visibly taped together on the back, was brought to the center of the stage. The large crowd waved flags, shouted slogans, and expressed loyalty while surrounding the cardboard figure.
Mockingly, netizens joked, “For the first time in history, a leader has appeared in the form of a paper figure, taking online memes to a new level.” “In China, paper figures are essential for funerals.”
Speculations are circulating as to why Mojtaba may not have appeared publicly: (1) for security reasons, (2) due to injuries from the previous attack, or (3) temporarily staying in a secret location.
Some netizens began crafting humorous memes, such as depictions of Trump throwing a paper cutout into the trash, and an image of Iran’s new leader beside Lubei, with comments like, “This is a joke…”
A lot of dark humor surfaced on social media, with one user writing, “Until they show him, we won’t know if he is dead or alive.” and “Announcing Mojtaba as the leader was actually smart. You can’t kill someone who is already dead.”