'I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon,' Trump said.

The strikes were conducted to protect American forces after Iranian threats were detected.

The recent sequence of carefully publicized meetings increasingly appears to be designed to communicate a single message: Mojtaba Khamenei is alive.

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei met with senior commander Ali Abdollahi and issued 'new directives' to the armed forces.

Iran issues written statements in the name of Mojtaba, without images or recordings.

While Iran projects a united front, a dangerous power struggle is brewing beneath the surface, with the IRGC increasingly calling the shots as Khamenei remains sidelined.

'This is not the time for peace,' Khamenei reportedly said, insisting the United States and Israel must first be defeated and made to pay a compensation.

The statement was read out by a newscaster, but there has been no sign of life from Mojtaba Khamenei.

'It does not matter what his name is or where he hides,' Katz warned.

Whoever is in charge, the leadership has yet to hold a funeral for Khamenei—a striking delay, given that Islamic tradition calls for burial as soon as possible.