Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, elected as Iran's new supreme leader, delivered a New Year's address for Nowruz, Iran's New Year holiday, via Telegram on the 20th (local time).
Mojtaba said that day, "I pay deep respect and condolences to the security martyrs, the border guards, and their bereaved families who were sacrificed amid the imposed war and coup plots," adding, "The enemy tried to divide Iran through a leadership vacuum, but you, the people, built a nationwide defensive line while observing Ramadan fasting and waging jihad."
He went on, "Stabilizing livelihoods and creating wealth are the key defensive lines in the economic war. I will communicate directly with citizens, listen to voices on the ground, and soon present implementation plans after expert review." He also claimed that recent drone and missile attacks targeting Türkiye and Oman were not carried out by the Iranian military.
Mojtaba was elected the third supreme leader, succeeding his father, who was killed in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on the 28th of last month. However, when he issued his first public message on the 12th, three days after his election, he did not appear in person, and a state TV anchor read it on his behalf.
He again did not appear in public this time. He is reported to have been injured during the airstrikes on the 28th of last month.
The Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran released four photos that day of Mojtaba smiling. It did not disclose when they were taken.