Iran’s newly declared Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was reportedly injured during the airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel in Tehran, according to international media reports citing diplomatic sources.
The American television network CNN reported, quoting sources, that Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded during the first day of the aerial attacks. According to the report, the incident occurred during the initial wave of strikes targeting locations in the Iranian capital.
Sources cited by CNN said Khamenei suffered a broken leg and minor injuries to his face during the attack.
Injured in the Same Airstrike That Killed Ali Khamenei
The airstrike took place on December 28 in Tehran. During that attack, Iran’s then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior officials were reportedly killed. Five members of the Khamenei family were also reported to have died in the strike.
Iran’s ambassador to Cyprus, Alireza Salarian, told the British newspaper The Guardian that Mojtaba Khamenei was injured in the same aerial attack that killed his father.
CNN reported, citing sources, that the 56-year-old cleric sustained injuries around his left eye and also suffered a small cut on his face. Earlier, the Israeli newspaper The Times of Israel also reported that Mojtaba was injured during the attack targeting Ali Khamenei.
New Supreme Leader Yet to Appear Publicly
Although Mojtaba Khamenei has been declared Iran’s new Supreme Leader, he has not appeared publicly since the incident and has not delivered any public speech. According to Ambassador Salarian, Khamenei is currently not in a condition to give speeches because of his injuries.
However, Yousef Pezeshkian, the son of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, told the Iranian Students News Agency that Mojtaba Khamenei is safe and his condition is not considered serious.
Iranian state media have been using previously recorded footage and limited visuals in their coverage as the country’s new leader has not appeared publicly.
Religious Figure with Strong Security Connections
Mojtaba Khamenei is widely known as a religious figure who rarely appears in public. Despite his limited public visibility, he is considered an influential figure within the political and security networks developed during his father’s leadership.
Analysts say he has close ties with the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In 2019, the United States imposed sanctions on Mojtaba Khamenei, accusing him of supporting Iran’s regional influence operations and assisting in internal repression.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection as Iran’s new Supreme Leader and said the decision is not acceptable to Washington.
