India, March 30 -- Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has issued yet another written message - this time thanking Iraq - but his continued absence from public view is raising questions about his condition and whereabouts.

In his latest message, Khamenei expressed appreciation to Iraq for backing Iran during the ongoing conflict. According to Iranian media, the message specifically acknowledged both the Iraqi people and its top religious leadership.

He "expressed his appreciation to the supreme religious authority (in Iraq) and the people of Iraq for their clear stance against aggression against Iran and their support for our country", the ISNA news agency reported, referring to Ali Sistani.

However, Mojtaba Khamenei's absence...