Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is still recovering from serious facial and leg injuries sustained in the airstrike that killed his father at the start of the war, three people close to him told Reuters.
Khamenei's face was disfigured in the attack on the Supreme Leader's compound in central Tehran and he suffered a major injury to one or both legs, the three sources said.
The 56-year-old man is nevertheless recovering from his injuries and remains mentally alert, according to these individuals, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid discussing sensitive topics. He participates in meetings with senior officials via teleconference and takes part in decisions on major issues, including the war and negotiations with Washington, two of them said.
The question of whether Khamenei's health allows him to run the affairs of state comes at a time when Iran is going through its most perilous period in decades, as high-stakes peace talks with the United States open Saturday in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
Khamenei's whereabouts, health, and ability to govern remain largely a mystery to the public, as no photos, videos, or audio recordings of him have been released since the airstrike and his subsequent appointment to replace his father on March 8.
Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to Reuters' questions regarding the severity of Khamenei's injuries or why he has not yet appeared in any images or recordings.
Khamenei was wounded on February 28, the first day of the war launched by the United States and Israel, in the attack that killed his father and predecessor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had been in power since 1989. Mojtaba Khamenei's wife, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law were among the other family members killed in the strike.
There has been no official Iranian statement on the severity of Khamenei's injuries. However, a state television presenter referred to him as a "janbaz," a term used to describe people severely wounded in war, after he was appointed supreme leader.
The reports regarding Khamenei's injuries are consistent with a statement made by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on March 13, in which he said that Khamenei was "injured and probably disfigured."
A source close to the assessments by US intelligence services told Reuters that Khamenei may have lost a leg.
The CIA declined to comment on Khamenei's health. The Israeli prime minister's office did not respond to inquiries.
Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, said that regardless of the severity of his injuries, it was unlikely that this inexperienced new leader would be able to wield the absolute power his father enjoyed. Although he is seen as a guarantor of continuity, it could take him years to acquire the same level of natural authority, Vatanka added.
“Mojtaba will have his say, but it won’t be the deciding voice,” he said. “He has to prove himself as a credible, powerful, and influential voice. It’s up to the regime as a whole to decide which direction to take.”
