【Mujtaba, the man who survived a family massacre and has remained hidden throughout his journey under military iron grip—when will he finally appear?】

According to Iranian sources, on the evening of the 12th, Iran's Supreme Leader Mujtaba is expected to attend a funeral ceremony in Qom for religious figures.

Since taking over in March, Mujtaba has made no public appearances. He has only communicated through written messages, recorded speeches read aloud, and a few old photos. The Iranian government claims he sustained injuries during the February airstrikes and is still recovering, adding that ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran necessitate precautionary measures. As such, Mujtaba has been concealed in a secret location, directing operations solely via couriers and audio conferences—so even senior officials remain unaware of his exact whereabouts. Previously, U.S. President Trump proposed a meeting at a hospital, but Iran firmly rejected it, demanding first that the U.S. return $24 billion in frozen assets as proof of American sincerity toward any potential talks.

Will Mujtaba appear at the funeral on the 12th? It is highly unlikely he will attend in person or make a public appearance. Instead, representatives from the Revolutionary Guard, the Quds Force, and senior religious leaders in Qom are expected to represent him. After all, Mujtaba remains at the top of Israel’s targeted assassination list. If he appears in an open space or at a large-scale funeral gathering, he could be locked onto by satellites, drones, and missiles within minutes.

At present, there is only one scenario under which Mujtaba might appear: if the U.S. and Israel agree to a ceasefire, Iran’s internal power structure is fully unified, the Revolutionary Guard maintains absolute control, and Mujtaba has fully recovered physically. However, given the current situation, the risks of his appearance far outweigh the benefits—the Revolutionary Guard will not take such a gamble.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867783126164480/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.