Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is in the midst of recuperating from serious injuries incurred during the airstrike that claimed the life of his father at the outset of the conflict. Three individuals with direct knowledge of his situation shared these insights with Reuters.
The attack, which targeted the supreme leader’s compound in central Tehran, left Khamenei with facial disfigurement and significant leg injuries, according to these sources. Despite these physical setbacks, the 56-year-old leader is reportedly on the mend and maintaining his mental acuity.
Sources indicate that Khamenei is actively participating in high-level meetings through audio conferencing, contributing to crucial decisions concerning both the ongoing conflict and diplomatic negotiations with Washington. His involvement underscores his determination to remain at the helm of state affairs.
This development comes at a critical time for Iran, as the nation faces one of its most perilous moments in decades. The stakes are particularly high with pivotal peace talks set to commence with the United States in Islamabad this Saturday.
These accounts from sources close to Khamenei offer the most comprehensive update on his condition in recent weeks. However, it’s important to note that Reuters has not been able to independently verify these details.
The accounts of the people close to Khamenei’s inner circle provide the most detailed description of the leader’s condition for weeks. Reuters couldn’t independently verify their descriptions.
Khamenei’s whereabouts, condition and ability to rule still largely remain a mystery to the public, with no photo, video or audio recording of him published since the air attack and his subsequent appointment as his father’s replacement on March 8.
Iran’s United Nations mission did not respond to Reuters questions about the extent of Khamenei’s injuries or the reason he has not yet appeared in any images or recordings.
Khamenei was wounded on February 28, the first day of the war launched by the US and Israel, in the attack that killed his father and predecessor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had ruled since 1989.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s wife, brother-in-law and sister-in-law were among other members of his family killed in the strike.
There has been no official Iranian statement on the extent of Khamenei’s injuries.
However, a newsreader on state television described him as a “janbaz”, a term used for those badly wounded in war, after he was named supreme leader.
The accounts of Khamenei’s injuries tally with a statement made by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on March 13 when he said that Khamenei was “wounded and likely disfigured.”
A source familiar with US intelligence assessments told Reuters that Khamenei was believed to have lost a leg.
The CIA declined to comment on Khamenei’s condition. The Israeli prime minister’s office didn’t respond to questions.
Alex Vatanka, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, said that, regardless of the severity of his injuries, it was unlikely the new and inexperienced leader would be able to command the overarching power wielded by his father.
While he is seen to represent continuity, it could take years for him to build up the same level of automatic authority, Vatanka added.
“Mojtaba will be one voice but it will not be the decisive one,” he said.
“He needs to prove himself as the credible, powerful, overriding voice. The regime as a whole has to make a decision in terms of where they are going to go.”
One of the people close to Khamenei’s circle said images of the supreme leader could be expected to be released within one or two months and that he might even appear in public then, although all three sources stressed he would only emerge when his health and the security situation allowed.
