WASHINGTON — March 12, 2026 — Multiple respected news organizations including Reuters, BBC News, Sky News, Deutsche Welle, France 24, and The Times of Israel report that Iran’s newly selected supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has not appeared publicly since his selection and that his first message was delivered on state television. We are highlighting the points below because they are confirmed by at least four of these sources.
- Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since being selected as Iran’s new supreme leader.
- His first public message was read on state television by a presenter rather than delivered in person.
- In that message, he vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed as leverage in the conflict.
- He warned neighboring countries to close U.S. military bases on their territory or face Iranian targeting.
- He was selected after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the opening strikes of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
Additional Details Reported
In a Fox News interview cited by Reuters, President Donald Trump said he believes Khamenei is alive but “damaged.”
An Iranian official told Reuters earlier this week that the new supreme leader was lightly injured but still operating, while the BBC noted state media references to him as war-wounded.
Deutsche Welle reported the war is nearing the two-week mark, with leaders in Tehran, Jerusalem and Washington vowing to press on despite economic shocks and rising oil prices.
How we report: We select the day’s most important stories, confirm facts across multiple reputable sources, and avoid anonymous sourcing. Our goal is clear, balanced coverage you can trust—because transparency and verification matter for informed readers.
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