Iran’s New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Injured But ‘Safe’, Officials Confirm

By Tgnews Reporter

Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has remained out of public view since assuming the role on March 8, is injured but “safe and sound,” according to Iranian officials and close associates speaking on Wednesday.

The 56-year-old cleric, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was selected by the Assembly of Experts to lead the Islamic Republic following his father’s assassination in the opening strikes of the US-Israeli military campaign on February 28.

That initial assault targeted high-value sites in Tehran, killing Ali Khamenei along with several family members including Mojtaba’s mother, wife, and reportedly others and dozens of senior officials.

Questions about Mojtaba Khamenei’s health intensified after he issued no public statements or appearances in the days following his appointment.

State television referred to him as a “wounded veteran of the Ramadan war,” alluding to the conflict that erupted during the Muslim holy month, without elaborating on the nature of his injuries.

Yousef Pezeshkian, son of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and a government advisor, addressed the rumors directly on his Telegram channel.

“I heard news that Mr. Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I asked some friends who had connections,” he wrote. “They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound.”

Tehran’s ambassador to Cyprus, Alireza Salarian, told The Guardian that Khamenei “was also there and he was injured in that bombardment,” referring to the February 28 strikes on a central Tehran compound.

Citing unnamed Iranian officials, The New York Times reported that Khamenei suffered injuries, including to his legs, but remains alert and is sheltering in a highly secure location with restricted communications. Two Israeli military officials corroborated to the newspaper that their intelligence indicates leg injuries.

In the power vacuum, observers expect Khamenei to delegate significant authority to figures like national security chief Ali Larijani for government affairs and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf for military coordination.

The Iranian military, including the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), swiftly pledged allegiance to the new leader, as did Tehran-backed groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered “unwavering support.”

However, the appointment has drawn sharp criticism from US President Donald Trump, who described Mojtaba Khamenei as “unacceptable” and warned that without US approval, “he’s not going to last long.”

Public sentiment in Iran remains deeply divided. Giant billboards in Tehran depict Mojtaba symbolically receiving the national flag from his father, with Ruhollah Khomeini looking on, while pro-government rallies have featured his posters.

Yet nighttime chants of “Death to Mojtaba!” in the capital highlight opposition, tied to his perceived role in suppressing protests since 2009.

The supreme leader, appointed for life by the 88-member Assembly of Experts, serves as both political head of state and religious guide for Shia Muslims worldwide.

The ongoing war, now in its second week, continues to escalate regional tensions, disrupt global oil markets, and prompt international calls for de-escalation.