Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has now gone nearly a week without a public appearance, raising alarm across the political spectrum as the country grapples with one of the most volatile moments since the 1979 Islamic revolution, the New York Times reported on Wednesday night.

“People are very worried about the supreme leader,” said the host of a primetime state television program Tuesday night, pressing a senior official from Khamenei’s office for answers. The official, Mehdi Fazaeli, sidestepped the question, telling viewers to pray and assuring them the supreme leader’s security was being well-managed.

Khamenei, who holds absolute authority over Iran’s political, military, and nuclear affairs, has not been seen or heard from since before the U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes on multiple Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend. His silence has fueled growing speculation about his health, his role in recent decisions, and even his survival.

The Ayatollah’s absence has become particularly conspicuous as Iran navigated retaliatory missile strikes against a U.S. base in Qatar, a cease-fire deal with Israel, and mounting internal political turmoil—all without so much as a written statement from the leader who would normally be expected to guide the nation through such events.

While Iranian officials insist Khamenei is alive and sheltering in a secure bunker to evade potential assassination attempts, the information vacuum is prompting widespread concern and speculation.

Mohsen Khalifeh, editor-in-chief of a Tehran-based newspaper, spoke for many when he said the “days-long absence has made all of us who love him very worried.” He added that if Khamenei were in fact dead, his funeral would be “the most glorious and historic” in Iran’s modern history.

The supreme leader’s role in the military response and diplomatic negotiations remains unclear. Under Iran’s constitution and political culture, he alone possesses the final say over such matters—including the retaliatory missile barrage on American assets and the ceasefire request mediated by Qatar at the urging of President Donald Trump.

Multiple Iranian officials confirmed to The Times that the country’s political and military elite are scrambling to adapt in his absence, forming temporary alliances and pushing divergent visions for Iran’s path forward.

With Khamenei silent, the balance of power appears to be shifting. President Masoud Pezeshkian, a relative moderate elected on promises of reform and engagement with the West, is emerging as a central figure in shaping Iran’s crisis response.

At a cabinet meeting Wednesday, Pezeshkian described the war as an inflection point. “This is a golden opportunity for change,” he said, urging a reassessment of governance and political behavior across the regime.

A rival conservative faction, led by hardliner Saeed Jalili and backed by many in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), is vocally opposed to Pezeshkian’s efforts to reengage with the West.

“This president lacks the political competence to govern the country,” wrote conservative analyst Foad Izadi, a Jalili ally, in a social media post condemning the ceasefire and any return to nuclear negotiations.

The president’s chief of communications, Ali Ahmadnia, fired back publicly, accusing hardliners of sabotaging national unity. “We’re not supposed to fight Israel day and night for 12 days and now deal with the likes of you!” he wrote.

Hamzeh Safavi, son of a senior IRGC commander and an influential political analyst, acknowledged that officials are operating under heightened fears of an Israeli assassination attempt on Khamenei—even under the ceasefire.

“There is a pragmatic view taking hold,” Safavi said, adding that power is gradually shifting toward other institutions, including the presidency and judiciary, to ensure continuity of governance.

Yet questions about who is actually calling the shots remain. Senior officials have declined to confirm whether they’ve spoken directly with the supreme leader during the crisis. Four sources familiar with internal discussions told The Times some decisions may be carried out without Khamenei’s direct oversight due to communication restrictions.

The country’s nuclear policy remains a key flashpoint. Top officials including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami have vowed to rebuild damaged facilities and continue uranium enrichment—despite diplomatic overtures from the Pezeshkian camp.

Analysts say the longer Khamenei remains silent, the more unstable Iran’s political structure becomes. “If we don’t see Khamenei by Ashura,” said Sanam Vakil of Chatham House, referencing the major Shiite holiday in early July, “that is a bad sign. He has to show his face.”

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