Iran's Wounded Supreme Leader Still Hidden 6 Months After War

Six months after airstrikes began the war and left Mojtaba Khamenei badly wounded, Iran's supreme leader has not appeared in a single photo, video, or audio message. His only words have been written statements read aloud by broadcasters. For a country where the leader's voice is absolute, this silence is unsettling.

Iranian officials insist Khamenei is alive and in control. They say he meets with top figures, receives major reports, and makes final decisions on every important issue. They claim he stays hidden for security and because his face was disfigured. But many Iranians are questioning whether the country still has a functioning leader at a time of war and economic collapse.

The situation is especially risky because Iran faces make-or-break decisions about the war, while its economy is being destroyed. Even the funeral rites for his father last month happened without him. Independent experts say the real question is no longer whether Khamenei is alive, but whether Iran's leadership system still works.

For the rest of the world, a hidden leader who still holds final say is unpredictable. It means decisions could come from a small group with unclear power, making the Middle East even harder to read and more dangerous.