August 28th, 2026: Is Iran’s Supreme Leader Dead? & Moscow Targets Britain

**SPEAKER_1** (0:00)
I break down the new wars and weapons systems that are totally reshaping our world in my show Cappy Army. But we go beyond simply just telling you what happened in a war. We actually investigate deeper into the why and how. At Cappy Army, everything is informed by my experience as an average US Army infantryman in Iraq and a war correspondent covering the front lines of the war in Ukraine. Just search Cappy Army on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to get weekly open source intelligence reports. And remember to follow today.

**Mike Baker** (0:43)
It's Friday, the 28th of August. Welcome to The President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker. Your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed. First up, Iran insists that Mojtaba Khamenei is still governing. But nearly six months without a verified appearance does beg the question, is the Supreme Leader even alive? Later in the show, Russia threatens to strike British military targets inside and outside Ukraine over Kyiv's use of long-range British missiles. I mean, that would be like Ukraine threatening to strike North Korea, Iran and China over Russia's use of their munitions to support Putin's invasion.
Plus, the Trump administration places Palestine Action alongside Hamas and Al Qaeda on America's list of global terrorist organizations. And in today's Back of the Brief, a catastrophic landslide and glacier collapse unleashes deadly flooding across Nepal and Tibet, leaving at least 360 dead and over 1,400 missing.
But first, today's PDB Spotlight.
The question, is Iran's supreme leader dead? That question is gaining renewed traction after nearly 6 months without a verified public appearance from Mojtaba Khamenei, the man selected as the new supreme leader after his father was killed in the opening strike of the current conflict. President Trump says he believes Khamenei is still alive. Speaking with Glenn Beck this week, Trump said Mojtaba was severely wounded in the February strike that killed his father, the previous Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Trump, the entire left side of Mojtaba's body, including his arm and leg, were badly injured. But Trump acknowledged that he can't be certain that Mojtaba survived. The president said his belief is based partly on the behavior of Iranian negotiators, who repeatedly claimed that they must first consult with the supreme leader before making final decisions. Trump said that if Mojtaba is dead, Tehran is putting on a convincing performance, and the president is alive for one, would be shocked if Iranian negotiators were being less than truthful. Iranian negotiators saying that they must consult the supreme leader is obviously not evidence that those consultations are actually happening. It could be true. It could also be a negotiating device that allows Iranian officials to delay decisions, avoid responsibility or reject an American proposal by invoking an authority that nobody else can reach. And that brings us to the more important question. Even if Mojtaba Khamenei is alive, is he actually governing Iran? There's currently no independently verified evidence that he's in the decision-making loop. Mojtaba has not made a confirmed public appearance since he was selected as supreme leader back in March. Iran has released no authenticated photograph, video or audio recording of him. His absence became especially difficult to ignore during his father's funeral ceremonies in July.
Three of Ali Khamenei's sons appeared publicly beside their father's coffin. Mojtaba, the son who inherited the most powerful office in Iran, was nowhere to be seen. He did not deliver a speech, release an audio message or appear in a verified photograph. And then last week, Mojtaba supposedly hosted another enormous wake for his father in Tehran. Thousands attended, including prominent political figures and several members of the Khamenei family. But Mojtaba was a no-show.
Iranian media has attempted to answer the growing questions. Earlier this month, the semi-official Mare News Agency released a video lasting less than 15 seconds that appeared to show Mojtaba speaking with several men. But the video contained no date or location. Analysts also noted similarities to older footage, meaning it did not establish that Mojtaba had recently been live, let alone governing. An official with Iran's besieged militia subsequently promised that new footage would be released showing Mojtaba in public and meeting military commanders. That footage has not appeared. Maybe they haven't figured out how to do it yet with AI. Iranian President Masoud Peseshkian claims he spent seven hours meeting with Khamenei in late July to discuss the war and Iran's deteriorating economy. But Peseshkian has offered conflicting descriptions of his access to the Supreme Leader. At one point, he said their interactions were increasing. Later, he acknowledged that communicating with Mojtaba had become extremely difficult. The Atlantic now reports that fewer than five people may have met with Mojtaba since he became Supreme Leader.