National security analyst Hal Kempfer has claimed that Iran’s new Supreme Leader has not been seen publicly since the war with the United States began, raising questions about his health, whereabouts, and role in the country’s leadership.
Speaking on Fox News on July 22, 2026, Kempfer alleged that the leader was seriously injured in a February 28 strike that reportedly killed his father and 49 senior officials. He said unverified reports suggested the leader may have fallen into a coma or lost a leg, though Iranian authorities have neither confirmed nor denied the claims.
“We’ve never heard from him directly. We’ve never seen him. Mojtaba Khamenei didn’t show up to the five-day funeral procession of his late father. Nobody knows where he is,” Kempfer said.
He argued that the leader’s absence from the funeral and the lack of recent public appearances or statements have fueled uncertainty over who is directing Iran’s government.
Kempfer also noted that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had reportedly said he had never personally met the Supreme Leader, adding that some analysts believe Revolutionary Guard General Ahmad Vahidi has assumed a more prominent leadership role amid the uncertainty.
