Iran’s newly installed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is recovering from serious injuries sustained in an airstrike that killed his father at the outset of the war, according to individuals familiar with his inner circle.
Sources told Reuters that Khamenei suffered significant facial disfigurement and injuries to one or both legs during the attack on the supreme leader’s compound in central Tehran. Despite the severity of his wounds, the 56-year-old is said to be mentally alert and actively engaged in governance.
According to two of the sources, Khamenei has been participating in high-level meetings via audio conferencing and remains involved in key decisions, including military operations and ongoing negotiations with Washington.
Questions surrounding his health and ability to lead come at a critical moment for Iran, as the country navigates one of its most volatile periods in decades, including sensitive peace talks with the United States underway in Islamabad.
Khamenei has not appeared publicly since the February 28 airstrike that killed his predecessor and father, Ali Khamenei, who had ruled Iran since 1989. He was formally appointed as supreme leader on March 8.
The attack reportedly also claimed the lives of several of Khamenei’s family members, including his wife and in-laws.
There has been no official confirmation from Iranian authorities regarding the extent of his injuries. Iran’s mission to the United Nations has not responded to inquiries, and no images, audio, or video recordings of Khamenei have been released since the strike.
State media has referred to him as a “janbaz,” a term used for individuals severely wounded in conflict.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously stated in March that Khamenei had been “wounded and likely disfigured,” though these claims, like those from sources close to his circle, have not been independently verified.























