Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was a no-show at his own succession rally in Tehran — and observers speculate that he’s either wounded or hiding out in fear.
As thousands gathered on Monday to celebrate Khamenei’s appointment as the country’s new supreme leader, the nepo-baby mullah was represented by a mere portrait — one that was half the size of dad Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s.
The portrait of the dead leader took up the center of the stage, according to state media footage of the event.
Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader, has yet to be spotted in public since the war with the US and Israel began. via REUTERS
Thousands came out to Tehran on Monday to celebrate Khamenei’s appointment as Iran’s top leader. Getty Images
A woman cries as she holds a picture of Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and his late father, Ali Khamenei, during a rally in support of the new leader at Enghelab Square on Monday in Tehran, Iran. Getty Images“It’s either he’s out cold in a hospital, or he’s scared and hiding in the deepest bunker they have after seeing his dad be turned into red mist,” Khosro Isfahani, the research director for the National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI) think tank, said of the missing Khamenei.
Isfahani told The Post that Khamenei lacks public support and was only appointed to the position because of pressure from the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
“He has the charisma of a boiled potato,” Isfahani quipped.
Despite his unpopularity and lack of leadership qualities, Khosro said the leaders of Iran’s top two factions — Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf — are happy for Khamenei’s son to step into the crosshairs.
“Those two want to sit this out and are happy to see Mojtaba be the one to beat his chest and take the reins,” Khosro said.
“Mojtaba is irrelevant, and they see it as a short-term appointment because it’s not going to last very long,” he added, referencing America’s latest threat to Khamenei.
Demonstrators wave Iranian flags as they gather for a rally in support of the new supreme leader at Enghelab Square in central Tehran on Monday. AFP via Getty Images
Many supporters held pictures of slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Getty ImagesMojtaba Khamenei, who was repeatedly treated for impotence in London and had trouble fathering a child, wasn’t popular with the other clerics, but does have the backing of the powerful IRGC.
Larijani is widely viewed as the most powerful man in Iran following the ayatollah’s death at the start of the war, with the official recently threatening President Trump.
Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran not to pick a leader without seeking his approval first, with the commander-in-chief specifically naming Khamenei an “unacceptable” candidate.
Opposition groups believe Mojtaba Khamenei is hiding in a bunker out of fear of being killed by US-Israeli joint strikes. AFP via Getty Images
An illustration showing the impact of the airstrikes in the war against Iran by the Strait of Hormuz.
“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight,” Trump told Axios.
The president also told ABC News that Iran’s new leader is “not going to last long” without his direct approval.
