According to a report by Al Jazeera on Tuesday September 22, 2026, Iranian state media has released what it described as a handwritten letter from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, potentially providing a physical indication that he survived the February 28 strike that killed his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The document, dated August 1 and addressed to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force commander Majid Mousavi, praises a report submitted by the senior military officer and calls for continued work on the force’s supply chain.

“Efforts regarding the supply chain should, God willing, continue, and reports on it should be regularly conveyed to me,” the letter says.

Khamenei also urged Mousavi to take precautions for himself and those serving under his command, writing: “Taking care of your dear life and all the brothers is my emphatic request.”

The release comes as questions about Mojtaba Khamenei’s whereabouts and public visibility continue. He has not appeared publicly since the February 28 U.S.-Israeli strikes, which killed his father and predecessor, although Iranian authorities have continued to issue statements and messages in his name. Reuters reported in August that Khamenei had also communicated through written messages while remaining absent from public view.

Iranian state media has previously reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian met Khamenei in late July to discuss military and economic matters.

A separate August 30 message attributed to Khamenei was published through his Telegram account, calling for Muslim unity and cooperation. Reuters reported that he remained unseen publicly despite the continued publication of messages attributed to him.

The latest handwritten document could therefore add to the evidence that Khamenei remained alive after the February attack, although its authenticity and the circumstances surrounding its release remain matters of scrutiny.

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