Iran’s new supreme leader injured and staying in a heavily fortified location
Just days after being appointed Iran’s supreme leader following the death of his father at the beginning of the war, the absence of Mojtaba Khamenei from public view has raised questions amid reports that he may have been injured.
The American newspaper The New York Times, Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded at the beginning of the war that broke out on February 28.
The newspaper quoted Iranian and Israeli officials saying that Mojtaba Khamenei’s legs were injured, although the circumstances and the exact severity of the injuries remain unclear.
Reasons for his public absence
The man has disappeared from public view since being appointed leader three days ago. He has not appeared in any video or public event and has issued no written statements.
Three Iranian officials, speaking anonymously because of the sensitivity of the issue, told the American newspaper that one reason for his absence is security concerns: any public appearance or communication could reveal his location and expose him to danger.
However, the officials also cited another reason: Khamenei, who is 56 years old, was reportedly injured during the first strikes at the start of the war.
They explained that over the past two days they had received information from senior government officials indicating that Khamenei had suffered several injuries, including injuries to his legs. Nevertheless, he is said to be conscious and currently residing in a highly fortified location with limited communication with the outside world.
Israeli account
Meanwhile, two Israeli military officials stated that information gathered by Israel also led the military to believe that Khamenei had been wounded in the legs on February 28, a conclusion they had reached even before he was selected as the new supreme leader on Sunday.
The circumstances of Mojtaba Khamenei’s injuries and their severity remain unclear.
His father, Ali Khamenei, was killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting a command complex in the heart of Tehran at the end of February.
His mother, his wife, and his son were also killed, along with several senior Iranian defense officials, during the daytime attack.
Clarification from Iran
For his part, the son of Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that the new supreme leader “is doing well” despite reports that he had been injured during the war with Israel and the United States.
Yousef Pezeshkian, a government adviser, wrote in a message posted on his Telegram channel that he had heard the reports claiming that Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. He added: “I asked some friends who have a wide network of connections. They said that, thank God, he is fine.”
