TEHRAN, Mar 11 (APP): Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is “safe and sound” despite reports that he was injured during the recent conflict involving Israel and the United States, according to a statement issued Wednesday by Yousef Pezeshkian, the son of Iran’s president.
In a post on his Telegram channel, Pezeshkian, who also serves as a government adviser, said he had contacted individuals with knowledge of the matter after hearing reports about the leader’s injury.
“I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I asked some friends who had connections, and they told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound,” he wrote.
Iranian state television earlier described Khamenei as a “wounded veteran of the Ramadan war,” but did not provide details regarding the nature of the reported injuries.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is the son and successor of Iran’s longtime leader Ali Khamenei, who was reported killed in US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, an event that triggered a broader regional conflict.
The new supreme leader, known for maintaining a low public profile, has rarely appeared at official events and has not yet addressed the nation or issued a formal statement since he was declared Iran’s supreme leader on Sunday.
Meanwhile, a report by The New York Times quoting three unnamed Iranian officials said Khamenei had suffered injuries, including to his legs, but remained alert and was staying at a highly secure location with limited communication.