Three sources close to the inner circle of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, told Reuters that he is still recovering from severe face and leg injuries sustained in the airstrike that killed his father at the onset of the war.
اضافة اعلان
The three sources stated that Khamenei’s face was disfigured in the attack on the Supreme Leader’s compound in central Tehran, and he suffered serious injuries to one or both of his legs. However, the sources—who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter—noted that Khamenei is recovering and remains in possession of "high mental capacity."
Two of the sources said he participates in meetings with senior officials via audio conferencing and is involved in decision-making regarding key issues, including the war and negotiations with Washington.
Questions regarding whether Khamenei’s health allows him to manage state affairs come as Iran faces its gravest crisis in decades, with unpredictable peace talks with the United States beginning Saturday in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
The accounts from those close to Khamenei’s inner circle provide the most detailed description of the Supreme Leader’s condition in weeks. Reuters could not independently verify the accuracy of these accounts.
Significant ambiguity still surrounds Khamenei’s location, condition, and ability to govern in the public eye, as no photo, video, or audio recording of him has been released since the airstrike and his subsequent appointment to succeed his father on March 8. Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not respond to Reuters’ questions regarding the extent of his injuries or the reason for his continued absence from public view.
Khamenei was injured on February 28, the first day of the war launched by the United States and Israel, in the attack that claimed the life of his father, Ali Khamenei, who had ruled since 1989. Mojtaba Khamenei’s wife, father-in-law, and sister-in-law were among other family members killed in the raid.
The accounts of his injuries align with a statement made by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on March 13, in which he said Khamenei was "wounded and likely disfigured." A source familiar with US intelligence assessments told Reuters there is a belief that Khamenei lost one of his legs.
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) declined to comment on Khamenei’s condition, and the Israeli Prime Minister's office did not respond to inquiries.—(Reuters)
