Iran's new supreme leader has yet to appear, and the system may not need him to

TL;DR

Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since his appointment as Iran's supreme leader.
A statement attributed to him was read on state television, but he has not made any public appearances.
He is reportedly injured, with a fractured foot and bruised eye, from a recent bombardment.
His absence has led to mockery and the circulation of AI-generated images and videos of him.
Some analysts believe that powerful institutions like the IRGC may be directing wartime strategy, regardless of the supreme leader's visibility.
The regime's ability to function without public appearances is linked to Iran's history of war and crisis.
Questions remain about his ability to exercise authority post-war or under more challenging circumstances.

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