Mojtaba Khamenei assumed Iran’s supreme leadership in early March 2026 following his father’s assassination in late-February U.S.-Israeli strikes that triggered broader regional conflict. Since then, he has issued statements and conducted private meetings, including one confirmed with President Masoud Pezeshkian in May, but avoided in-person public events amid wartime security concerns and persistent health speculation. State media relied on archival material until mid-August, when officials released rare recent footage of the leader and announced additional meetings. Concurrent military command appointments and an announced shift toward an offensive IRGC posture reflect ongoing consolidation of authority. These verified institutional actions and the timing of the footage release constitute the primary recent catalysts shaping trader assessments of any near-term public appearance threshold.