US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive and “increasingly engaged at some level,” ending weeks of speculation about his health and whereabouts amid the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran.
Speaking to US lawmakers on Tuesday, Rubio said Khamenei remains involved in Iran’s leadership apparatus even as the country’s conventional military shield has been substantially eroded by US-Israeli strikes. He added that Iran still retains a large number of drones despite the damage to its defence capabilities.
The revelation comes amid growing uncertainty over Khamenei’s status after he made no public appearance for nearly six weeks following his appointment as Iran’s supreme leader in March 2026 after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in US-Israeli strikes.
Intelligence assessments from both Israel and the United States have suggested that Khamenei is alive but does not hold real control over Iran’s leadership apparatus, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) appearing to control the country rather than the Supreme Leader himself.
During Nowruz, the Iranian New Year in March 2026, expectations were that Khamenei would address the public directly through a video or audio message. Instead, only a written statement was released, accompanied by several still images, fueling rumors that he was wounded, isolated, or incapacitated.
US lawmakers have grilled Rubio over stalled Iran war negotiations, with President Donald Trump insisting the conflict would be worthwhile if it leads to a favorable outcome. American negotiators believe Iran’s Supreme Leader has approved a “broad template” of a peace deal under which Tehran would scale back its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
The controversy over Khamenei’s status intensified after a mural in Mashhad appeared to show him among figures believed to be deceased, sparking global debate. However, authorities have remained silent, and there has been no official confirmation of his death or incapacitation.
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