JD Vance Says Mojtaba Khamenei Is Alive, Claims He Is Not Involved in Daily Governance

Washington: US Vice President JD Vance has said that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive, while claiming that he is currently not involved in the country’s day-to-day affairs.

Vance’s comments come amid continued uncertainty surrounding Mojtaba Khamenei, who has remained largely out of public view during the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel.

Mojtaba Khamenei became Iran’s Supreme Leader following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, earlier this year. His prolonged absence from public appearances has prompted conflicting reports about his condition and role in Iran’s decision-making.

Recent reports have offered differing accounts. The Indian Express, citing a senior Iranian cleric, reported that Mojtaba was pulled from the rubble after a strike on a Tehran hospital and was subsequently moved to an undisclosed location. The report also noted conflicting claims about his health. 

Vance’s latest remarks therefore add another account to the conflicting information surrounding the Iranian leader. There has been no independent public verification in the available reporting that establishes the full extent of Mojtaba Khamenei’s current involvement in Iran’s governance.

The comments come as Washington and Tehran remain engaged in indirect diplomatic contacts aimed at ending the seven-month conflict. Reuters reported on September 29 that US and Iranian officials were communicating separately through mediators, with discussions involving Iran’s proposals on a ceasefire, sanctions, the nuclear programme and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.