Reports Indicate Mojtaba Issues Orders via Letters, Decision-Making Power May Have Shifted to Revolutionary Guards

On April 24, according to the New York Times on the 23rd local time, four senior Iranian officials familiar with the health condition of Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba stated that despite his serious injuries, he remains mentally sharp and engaged. He has undergone three surgeries on one leg and is awaiting the installation of a prosthetic. One of his hands has also undergone surgery, with functionality slowly recovering. Officials noted that he has severe burns on his face and lips, making it difficult for him to speak, and added that he will eventually require plastic surgery. They stated that Mojtaba has not recorded any video or audio messages, as he does not want to appear weak or sound frail during his first public address. He has issued several written statements, which have been published online and aired on national television. Messages to him are handwritten, sealed in envelopes, and relayed by a trusted group of couriers—who drive cars or ride motorcycles along highways and back roads until they reach his hideout. His instructions are also sent back along the same route. Concerns for his safety, his injuries, and the significant difficulty in contacting him have led Mojtaba to delegate decision-making power to generals—at least for the time being. However, analysts indicate that Mojtaba has a close relationship with these generals, having volunteered for the Iran-Iraq War as a teenager and grown up alongside them, making them a dominant force.