Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was reportedly injured during the February 28 bombardment that killed his predecessor, according to diplomatic sources cited in media reports.

While Iranian state media initially portrayed the leadership transition as stable and unaffected by the strikes, Alireza Salarian told The Guardian that Mojtaba Khamenei had sustained injuries.

“I have heard that he was injured in his legs and hand and arm,” Salarian said, adding that he believed the leader was receiving treatment in a hospital.

Since the attack, Iran’s government has not released any video or audio messages from Khamenei. His first official statement as supreme leader was delivered in written form and read aloud by a news anchor on state television.

Investigators from BBC Verify also reported that a widely circulated “new” official photograph of Khamenei promoted by Iranian state media appeared to be an older image that had been digitally altered to make it appear more recent.

Security concerns surrounding the injured leader have fueled speculation about his whereabouts. Treating a senior figure in the middle of an active conflict—especially given the extensive intelligence presence attributed to Mossad—would pose significant risks inside Iran.

According to a report by the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida, Khamenei may have been secretly moved out of Iran for treatment. The outlet cited intelligence sources claiming he was transported from Tehran to Moscow aboard a Russian military aircraft.

The report also suggested that Vladimir Putin offered medical treatment and protection during a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

If accurate, the move could have major geopolitical implications, potentially placing Iran’s top leader under Russian protection at a time when tensions between Tehran, Washington and Israel remain high. However, neither Iranian nor Russian officials have publicly confirmed the reported evacuation.