New Iranian Leader Was Wounded Early in the War, Iranian and Israeli Officials Say

Three days after Mojtaba Khamenei was proclaimed to have succeeded his slain father as Iran’s supreme leader, he has not appeared on video or in public nor issued any written statements.

“War in theMiddle East Advertisement Supported by Officials say Mojtaba Khamenei’s legs were hurt, but the circumstances as well as the extent of his injuries were unclear”

New York Times

One reason is concern that any communication could reveal his location and put him in danger, according to three Iranian officials speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive subject in Iran.

But another factor is that Mr. Khamenei, 56, was injured on the opening day of the attack by Israel and the United States, they said.

New York Times

The three Iranian officials said they were told by more senior figures in the government over the past two days that Mr. Khamenei had suffered injuries, including to his legs, but that he was alert and sheltering at a highly secure location with limited communication.

Two Israeli military officials said information gathered by Israel had also led the defense establishment to believe that Mr. Khamenei suffered leg injuries on Feb. 28, a conclusion they reached even before he was selected as the new supreme leader on Sunday.

“War in theMiddle East Advertisement Supported by Officials say Mojtaba Khamenei’s legs were hurt, but the circumstances as well as the extent of his injuries were unclear”

New York Times

The Israeli officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

The full circumstances and extent of Mr. Khamenei’s injuries were unclear.

His father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in Israeli airstrikes on a leadership compound in the heart of Tehran, also on Feb. 28.

The new supreme leader’s mother, wife and a son as well as several top Iranian defense officials were also killed in that daytime attack.

New York Times