India, March 22 -- Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has not been seen in public since taking over after his father's assassination at the start of the war. He was appointed as the supreme leader on March 9.

The timing of the Persian New Year, Nowruz, intensified the mystery surrounding him. Traditionally, a message or public address from Iran's Supreme Leader is expected during the holiday, but this year, Mojtaba's communication was limited to a written statement published on his Telegram channel, accompanied by a selection of photographs.

The absence of a live appearance or recorded video fueled speculation about his health and safety.

Intelligence agencies, including the CIA and Mossad, have been monitoring developm...