Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, was reportedly wounded in both legs on the same day his father was killed in airstrikes, according to claims by Israeli officials.
The 56-year-old cleric has not been seen in public since taking over from his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in strikes on Tehran at the start of the ongoing conflict.
Israeli and Iranian officials cited in reports said Mojtaba sustained injuries to his legs during the opening day of the war. His absence from public view since assuming leadership has fueled speculation that he is recovering from those injuries, although some sources suggest he may be staying out of sight to avoid being targeted.
Iranian officials reportedly said the new leader remains alert and is sheltering in a highly secure location with restricted communications.
Israel has previously vowed to eliminate whoever succeeded Ali Khamenei, after strikes reportedly killed the former leader, Mojtaba’s wife Zahra Haddad-Adel, and one of his sons in Tehran during the early stages of the conflict.
U.S. President Donald Trump also intensified rhetoric against Iran’s leadership, warning that the new supreme leader would not “live in peace” and threatening severe consequences if the conflict escalates further.
Iranian state television has referred to Mojtaba as a “janbaz,” a Persian term used for someone wounded by enemy action, during coverage of what Iranian media call the “Ramadan war.”
A government-linked religious charity, Komiteh Emdad, also described him as a “janbaz jang,” meaning a veteran wounded in war.
However, Yousef Pezeshkian dismissed reports that the injuries were serious. Speaking on Wednesday, he said he had checked with contacts and was told Mojtaba Khamenei was “safe and sound.”
