Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is still recovering from severe facial and leg injuries sustained in an airstrike that killed his father early in the war, according to three people close to his inner circle, Reuters reports, writes UNN.
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Khamenei's face was disfigured in the attack on the supreme leader's residence in central Tehran, and he suffered severe injuries to one or both legs, all three sources said.
However, the 56-year-old leader is recovering from his injuries and remains clear-headed, according to the sources. He participates in meetings with senior officials via audio conferencing and is involved in decision-making on important issues, including the war and negotiations with Washington, two of them said.
Khamenei's whereabouts, condition, and ability to govern the country largely remain a mystery to the public: no photos, videos, or audio recordings of him have been released since the airstrike and his subsequent appointment to his father's position on March 8.
Iran's mission to the UN did not respond to Reuters' questions about the extent of Khamenei's injuries or why 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 an attack that killed his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had ruled since 1989. Mojtaba Khamenei's wife, his son-in-law, and sister-in-law were among other family members who died in the strike.
There has been no official statement from Iran regarding the extent of Khamenei's injuries. However, a state television announcer referred to him as a "janbaz" — a term used to describe those severely wounded in war — after he was appointed supreme leader.
Reports of Khamenei's injuries coincide with a statement by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on March 13, when he said Khamenei was "wounded and likely disfigured."
A source familiar with US intelligence assessments told Reuters that Khamenei reportedly lost a leg.
The CIA declined to comment on Khamenei's condition. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office did not respond to questions.
Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, said that regardless of the severity of his injuries, it is unlikely that a new and inexperienced leader could wield the same power as his father. While he is considered a representative of continuity, it may take him years to achieve the same level of automatic authority, Vatanka added.
"Mojtaba will be one of the voices, but not the decisive one," he said. "He needs to prove that he is an authoritative, influential, and decisive voice. The regime as a whole needs to decide where it will go."
One person close to Khamenei's inner circle said that images of the supreme leader might be released within one to two months, and that he might even appear in public then, although all three sources emphasized that he would only appear when his health and security situation allowed.
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