Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Severely Injured and Disfigured in Airstrike

Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei suffered severe facial disfigurement and serious injuries to one or both legs in the February 28, 2026, airstrike that killed his father, Ali Khamenei, according to three sources close to his inner circle who spoke to Reuters. The 56-year-old cleric, who was appointed Supreme Leader on March 8, 2026, has not appeared in any photograph, video, or audio recording since the attack. Despite his injuries, sources told Reuters that Mojtaba Khamenei remains mentally lucid and participates in high-level government meetings via audio conference, including deliberations on the war and negotiations with Washington. The disclosure came on the same day that peace talks between Iran and the United States were set to begin in Islamabad, Pakistan.

No images released in over a month since appointment The complete absence of any public appearance by Mojtaba Khamenei since the February 28 attack has fueled widespread speculation inside Iran and abroad about his actual capacity to govern. His first statement as Supreme Leader, delivered on March 12, was read aloud by a television presenter rather than broadcast in his own voice. On March 20, his office released a brief written message greeting the Persian New Year and proclaiming it "the year of resistance." On April 11, state television read a text attributed to him marking 40 days since his father's assassination. „We did not seek war and we do not want it” — Mojtaba Khamenei via La Libre.be The statement also declared that Iran would not renounce what it described as its legitimate rights, referencing the resistance front. Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to Reuters' questions regarding the severity of his injuries or the reasons for his continued absence from public view.

US defense secretary and intelligence sources flagged injuries weeks ago The Reuters report corroborates an assessment made public by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on March 13, when he stated that Mojtaba Khamenei was "injured and likely disfigured." A separate source familiar with American intelligence assessments told Reuters that the Iranian leader may have lost a leg. The CIA declined to comment on Khamenei's condition, and the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not respond to questions. One of the sources close to Khamenei's circle told Reuters that images of the Supreme Leader could be released within one or two months, and that a public appearance might follow — but only if his health and security conditions permit. According to the Rai News report, rumors circulated that Khamenei was transported to Moscow for surgery, though this information has never been confirmed. The Reuters agency explicitly noted that all accounts of his condition cannot be independently verified.

Power vacuum fears grow as peace talks open in Islamabad The uncertainty surrounding Mojtaba Khamenei's health has raised pointed questions about who holds effective authority in Iran during one of the most acute crises the Islamic Republic has faced in decades. Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told Reuters that even setting aside the severity of his injuries, the new leader lacks the consolidated authority his father wielded. „Mojtaba will be a voice, but not the decisive one. He must prove himself to be the credible, strong, predominant voice. The regime as a whole must make a decision regarding the direction it will follow” — Alex Vatanka via Reuters Multiple analyses cited in the Berliner Zeitung report indicate that the Revolutionary Guards have significantly expanded their position since the start of the war, with some observers describing Mojtaba Khamenei as having been installed by the Guards primarily to signal continuity. The February 28 attack also reportedly killed Mojtaba Khamenei's wife, his mother, and a son, according to the Rai News report. The opening of peace negotiations in Islamabad on April 11 placed the question of his governing capacity at the center of international attention, with two of the three Reuters sources confirming he remains involved in deliberations over both the war and talks with Washington.

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The position of Supreme Leader in Iran was established following the 1979 Islamic Revolution led by Ruhollah Khomeini, who held the role until his death in 1989. Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba's father, succeeded Khomeini and served as Supreme Leader for nearly four decades, consolidating authority in part by expanding the power and resources of the Revolutionary Guards. Within Iran's theocratic system, the Supreme Leader holds ultimate authority over elected institutions, the military, and the judiciary, and is formally selected by a council of 88 senior clerics. The February 28, 2026, airstrike that killed Ali Khamenei occurred on the first day of the US-Israel military operation against Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury.