"Iran's Mojtaba Severely Injured in U.S. Airstrike; Currently Recovering"

by Lim Chunhan

Published 11 Apr.2026 16:11(KST)

Reports have emerged that Iran's new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, suffered severe facial injuries and was seriously wounded during a U.S. airstrike, but is currently recovering.

Mojtaba Khamenei. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to major international media outlets on April 11, Mojtaba was staying at the residence of his father, the former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on February 28 when they were targeted by airstrikes from the United States and Israel. The attack resulted in the death of his father, and Mojtaba also sustained severe injuries, including facial disfigurement and a serious leg injury. Some within and outside the U.S. intelligence community have raised the possibility that he may have had one of his legs amputated.

Sources on the Iranian side claim that Mojtaba is recovering from his injuries and remains mentally lucid. They report that he is participating in high-level officials' meetings via audio conference and is directly involved in key decision-making matters, including negotiations with the United States. One close aide stated that within a month or two, a photo of Mojtaba could be released, or he may appear in public himself.

Since being selected as his father's successor last month, Mojtaba has only issued several written statements, and has not released any photos, videos, or even audio recordings to the public. As a result, various rumors about his condition have been circulating.

Some sources have reported that he is in a coma and unable to perform his duties, or that he was urgently transferred to Russia for medical treatment. There are even voices within Iran expressing doubts about whether Mojtaba is still alive.

The Iranian authorities maintain that it is actually preferable for Mojtaba not to make public appearances. Their reasoning is that, with Israel directly targeting Iran's leadership, refraining from public activity is inevitable in order to avoid being tracked as a target.