Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei injured but safe, official says

Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has reportedly been injured but remains “safe and sound,” according to Yousef Pezeshkian, the son of President Masoud Pezeshkian.

In a post shared on his Telegram channel on Wednesday, Yousef said he had made inquiries after hearing reports that the 56-year-old leader had been wounded.

“I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections,” he wrote.

“They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound,” he added.

Mojtaba Khamenei, previously known as a powerful but low-profile figure within Iran’s political system, was appointed the country’s Supreme Leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an air strike at the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran.

Questions had been raised about Mojtaba’s whereabouts and physical condition since his appointment by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, as he has yet to appear or speak publicly.

Iranian state television earlier referred to him as a “wounded veteran of the Ramadan war,” without providing details about the injuries.

According to a report by the New York Times citing unnamed Iranian officials, Mojtaba Khamenei suffered injuries, including to his legs, but remains alert and is currently sheltering in a highly secure location with limited communication.

There has been speculation that he was injured during the daylight air strike on a compound in Tehran on February 28 that killed his father, as well as his mother and wife.

His image has since appeared on billboards across Tehran, including one depicting him symbolically receiving Iran’s national flag from his father while the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ruhollah Khomeini, looks on.

Thousands of pro-government supporters also carried posters of him during a large rally in central Tehran earlier this week.

However, reports of night-time chants of “Death to Mojtaba!” in parts of the capital have highlighted the opposition he faces from critics who accuse him of playing a key role in suppressing anti-government protests since 2009.

Analysts say that due to the high risk of assassination attempts by Israel or the United States, Mojtaba Khamenei is expected to remain out of public view for the foreseeable future.

Emile Hokayem of the International Institute for Strategic Studies said the new leader may operate from a highly secure location for some time, given the circumstances surrounding his father’s death.

Military forces in Iran, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), have pledged allegiance to Khamenei following his appointment, alongside regional allies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi movement in Yemen.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has also expressed support for Iran’s new leader.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump had earlier warned that Mojtaba Khamenei would be “unacceptable” as Iran’s Supreme Leader, stating in an interview that his leadership would require approval from Washington.

The position of Iran’s Supreme Leader is held for life and combines both political authority and religious leadership for the country’s Shia Muslim population.