CIA and Mossad Search for Signs of Iran's New Supreme Leader as Mojtaba Khamenei Remains Unseen

CIA, Mossad, and allied intelligence agencies are intensely monitoring for signs of Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since being declared successor to his father on March 9. Intelligence agencies watched Nowruz on March 21 expecting a traditional video address; only a written statement was issued, deepening uncertainty. Defense Secretary Hegseth has claimed Mojtaba was 'wounded and likely disfigured' in the strike that killed his father, but U.S. and Israeli intelligence suggests he remains alive based on evidence of Iranian officials attempting to schedule in-person meetings with him. A U.S. official said the intelligence community cannot confirm whether Mojtaba is actually exercising command authority, raising the possibility the IRGC may be running the country.