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Iran’s caller ultimate leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is small much than an "empty entity" who is not astatine nan helm of nan regime, according to Israeli nationalist information sources.
The boy of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — who was killed successful a targeted Israeli onslaught connected Feb. 28 — is besides linked to what officials picture arsenic a "misfunctioning" regime.
"The caller leader is an quiet entity," Kobi Michael, a defense expert astatine nan Institute for National Security Studies and nan Misgav Institute, told Fox News Digital.
"Mojtaba Khamenei does not look successful public, but we besides person reliable accusation that he does not power aliases lead nan authorities — aliases what has been near of nan regime."
"The existent Iranian activity is broken, confused and is almost misfunctioning," Michael added.
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A mourner holds a poster depicting Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, right, nan successor to his precocious begetter Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, arsenic ultimate leader, during nan ceremonial convoy for elder Iranian subject officials and civilians killed during nan U.S.-Israel run successful Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (Vahid Salemi/AP Photo)
Mojtaba reportedly escaped decease by minutes erstwhile his begetter was killed Feb. 28, leaving nan compound for a locomotion soon earlier an Israeli rocket strike, according to leaked audio accessed by The Telegraph.
The audio — reportedly from a Mar. 12 gathering — revealed specifications astir nan strikes that besides took retired respective members of nan Khamenei family.
Mazaher Hosseini, caput of protocol for Khamenei’s office, is supposedly heard successful nan audio telling elder leaders that Mojtaba suffered "a insignificant wounded to his leg."
Since being named ultimate leader, Mojtaba has not made 1 nationalist appearance. Instead, a connection by him was publication retired connected Iranian authorities TV informing of continued strikes and urging Gulf nations to unopen down U.S. bases.
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Iranian Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani, speaks during a property convention aft his gathering pinch nan Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, successful Beirut, Lebanon, Aug. 13, 2025. Gholamreza Soleimani, a elder serviceman successful nan Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who commands Basij forces, attends a gathering during Basij Week successful nan Iranian superior Tehran connected Nov. 24, 2019. ((AP Photo/Bilal Hussein, File; Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images, File))
Other reports claimed Mojtaba was successful captious information aliases moreover successful a coma, though Iranian officials person insisted that nan caller ultimate leader is successful bully health.
Mojtaba Khamenei vowed revenge Wednesday aft nan sidesplitting of elder information charismatic Ali Larijani successful an Israeli strike, but only again successful a connection released.
"Such acts of panic only bespeak nan enemies’ hostility and will fortify nan resoluteness of nan Islamic nation. Undoubtedly, justness will beryllium served," nan connection said.
Ali Larijani, 1 of Iran’s apical information figures, was killed aft Israeli intelligence reportedly located him and different officials connected nan outskirts of Tehran.
Other elder figures person besides been killed successful caller strikes, including Basij militia leader Gholamreza Soleimani, according to nan Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
"This is not a caller phase, but a continuing effort and a very successful and awesome 1 and a important constituent of nan strategy meant to weaken nan Iranian regime," Michael said of nan continued strikes astatine authorities figures.
"This is to nan grade that it will not beryllium capable to reconstitute itself and/or to go again a terrible threat and destabilizing subordinate successful nan broader Middle East."
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President Donald Trump boards Air Force One, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, astatine Joint Base Andrews, Md. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)
Following nan opening U.S.-Israeli strikes, President Donald Trump told nan Iranian group that their "moment of freedom" was astatine hand.
"When we are finished, return complete your government. It will beryllium yours to take," Trump said, suggesting nan U.S. would thief bring down nan Iranian regime.
"At nan very aforesaid time, by weakening nan regime and paralyzing its capacities mostly speaking and its home power specifically, nan U.S. and Israel are facilitating nan required conditions for nan Iranian group to topple nan regime," Michael added.
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"This is nan eventual triumph successful their eyes, and nan way to this destination is that they are trying to summation immoderate harm wherever they can."
Emma Bussey is simply a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Before joining Fox, she worked astatine The Telegraph pinch nan U.S. overnight team, crossed desks including foreign, politics, news, athletics and culture.
