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.
“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, a research director for the opposition group National Union for Democracy, 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 leader 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 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.
Mojtaba 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.
“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.
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