Iran Claims Mojtaba Khamenei Recovering from Strike Injuries Amid Conflicting Reports

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in “good health” and suffered only minor injuries during the February 28 strikes, according to senior Iranian officials who spoke on Friday. These statements come as international speculation mounts over his condition and ability to govern following the attack that reportedly killed his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Mazaher Hosseini, head of protocol in the office of the supreme leader, provided specific details about the injuries, stating that Khamenei sustained damage to his kneecap, lower back, and the area behind his ear.

“During the attack, Khamenei was not in the place where the attack took place. They hit his home where his wife was killed. He was on his way, on the stairs, when the missile struck there. He was knocked to the ground by the blast,” Hosseini explained while addressing supporters, according to Iran International English.

The Iranian official insisted that Khamenei remains actively involved in state affairs despite his injuries. “Thank God, he is in good health. The enemy is spreading all kinds of rumors and false claims. They want to see him and find him, but people should be patient and not rush. He will speak to you when the time is right,” Hosseini added.

He acknowledged that “a small piece of shrapnel had hit him behind the ear” but emphasized that the wounds were healing and that Khamenei was now “in complete health.”

These official statements contrast sharply with international media reports about the 56-year-old cleric’s condition. Reuters reported earlier this month, citing three sources familiar with Khamenei’s inner circle, that he had suffered severe facial injuries and serious wounds to one or both legs during the strike on the supreme leader’s compound in central Tehran.

The Reuters report also claimed that several members of Khamenei’s family, including his wife and close relatives, were killed in the attack alongside his father, Ali Khamenei.

Despite these reported injuries, Khamenei allegedly remains mentally alert and continues participating in major state decisions through audio conferences, including discussions related to the ongoing regional conflict and negotiations with Washington.

A separate CNN report, citing US intelligence assessments, indicated that Mojtaba Khamenei has emerged as a central figure in shaping Iran’s war and negotiation strategy following recent US and Israeli strikes. The report noted that US intelligence agencies have not visually confirmed Khamenei’s whereabouts since he assumed leadership after his father’s death.

CNN further reported that Khamenei is avoiding electronic communication and relying instead on trusted couriers and face-to-face meetings while undergoing medical treatment for burns and other injuries affecting parts of his face, arm, torso, and leg.

The uncertainty surrounding Khamenei’s condition comes at a critical moment for Iran’s foreign relations. In a parallel development, US President Donald Trump stated on Friday that the United States expected to receive a response from Iran regarding Washington’s proposal aimed at ending the ongoing Middle East conflict.

“We’ll hear from them supposedly tonight,” Trump told reporters before traveling to Virginia. When asked if Iran was deliberately delaying the process, he responded, “We’ll find out soon enough.”

Trump also contested characterizations of the US proposal as merely a “one-page offer” to Iran. “Well, it’s more than a one-page offer. It’s an offer that basically said they will not have nuclear weapons; they are going to hand us the nuclear dust and many other things that we want,” he explained.

When questioned about whether Iran had accepted these terms, Trump expressed skepticism about Iranian commitments: “They have agreed. When they agree, it doesn’t mean much because the next day they forget they agreed.”

The situation highlights the complex dynamics of Iran’s internal power structure following the reported death of Ali Khamenei and the continuing tensions between Tehran and Washington as regional conflicts persist.