Mojtaba Khamenei, the new Supreme Leader of Iran, seriously injured and with his face disfigured in the American-Israeli attack. But he is involved in strategic decisions regarding the war and negotiations with the US
Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is still recovering from severe injuries, including facial and lower limb trauma, suffered in the airstrike that killed his father early in the war, three sources close to his power circle told Reuters.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the new Ayatollah of Iran
According to them, the strike on the Supreme Leader's compound in central Tehran caused serious injuries, including facial disfigurement and significant damage to one or both legs.
The leader operates from a distance, in the midst of war
Despite the severity of his injuries, Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is conscious, stable and involved in decision-making, said the same sources, who requested anonymity for security reasons.
He attends meetings with high-ranking officials via audio conference and is involved in strategic decisions regarding the war and negotiations with the United States.
The question of his actual ability to lead the Iranian state comes at a critical time, with Iran in one of its most tense periods in decades and peace talks with the US set to begin in Islamabad on Saturday.
Reuters states that it could not independently verify this information.
The “invisible” leader of Iran
Since the airstrike and taking over from his father in March, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly in any image, video or audio. His exact location and medical condition remain unknown to the public.
Iranian representatives at the United Nations did not respond to requests for comment on his condition or absence from public space.
The attack that changed the leadership in Tehran
According to the cited sources, Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded on February 28, the first day of the war launched by the US and Israel. His father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ruled Iran since 1989, was killed in the same attack.
Other family members were also killed in the bombing, including the new supreme leader's wife, brother-in-law and sister-in-law.
To date, Iranian authorities have not provided official details on the extent of the injuries. However, state media later described him as a “janbaz” — a term used in Iran for people seriously injured in the war.
Indirect confirmations and outside information
The information regarding his medical condition overlaps with statements previously made by US officials. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in mid-March that the Iranian leader was “wounded and possibly disfigured.”
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US intelligence sources also indicated that he may have lost a leg, but this data has not been officially confirmed. Neither the CIA nor the Israeli prime minister's office have commented on the situation.
A leader without his father's authority
Experts say that regardless of his physical condition, Mojtaba Khamenei does not yet possess the consolidated authority that his father enjoyed, notes the Jerusalem Post.
Analyst Alex Vatanka, from the Middle East Institute, believes that the new leader does not have, at least for now, the ability to exercise absolute control over the state apparatus.
“It will be an important voice, but not a decisive one”, he states, stressing that his influence still needs to be validated within the system.
Real Power: Guardians of the Revolution
Although he is perceived as a figure of continuity, effective power in Iran appears to be divided. The Revolutionary Guards, the essential military and political structure of the regime, would have a decisive role in shaping the current leadership.
Mojtaba Khamenei, according to Iranian sources, has built close relations with this structure in recent years, during the time he was active in his father's circle of power.
However, his political vision remains unclear, and analysts argue that there is still no well-defined ideological direction of his own.
Limited appearances and controlled messages
His first public communication as supreme leader came on March 12, when a written message was read on state television. He called for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and warned the states in the region about the presence of American bases.
Thereafter, only occasional text messages were published, including one on Persian New Year, in which he called 2025 “the year of resistance”.
The question circulating in Iran: “Where is Mojtaba?”
In the absence of public appearances, the leader's absence has fueled waves of speculation in the Iranian online environment. Theories about his real status and the power structure in Tehran are circulating on social media and messaging apps.
One of the viral memes depicts an empty chair under a spotlight, accompanied by the question: “Where's Mojtaba?”
Discretion, security and control
At the same time, supporters of the regime say that his absence is a security measure, in the context of US and Israeli airstrikes that have decimated part of the Iranian leadership.
“Why would he go public? To become a target?”commented a member of Qom's Basij militia, reflecting a widespread position among the security apparatus.
In this climate of uncertainty, Iran seems to be ruled from the shadows, between forced discretion, political fragility and a struggle for the stability of a system under unprecedented pressure.
