The anticipation for the first national address by Mojtaba Khamenei, the newly elected Supreme Leader of Iran, was palpable, as the Middle East remains in a state of freeze following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This situation has drawn intense focus on three key figures: U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the new ayatollah, who has notably refrained from making public appearances since his election. In a surprising turn, Khamenei's first important message to the nation was delivered not by him but through a television anchor, while an image of him was broadcast in the background, raising eyebrows and questions about his visibility and influence.