Tehran — Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei narrowly survived a February 28 US-Israeli strike on Tehran after stepping outside moments before missiles hit his residence, according to leaked audio reported by The Telegraph. The recording, attributed to a senior official in the late Ali Khamenei’s office, offers a detailed account of the attack that killed Iran’s former leader and several senior figures.
According to the report, the strike occurred at 9:32 a.m. local time and appeared designed to target multiple members of Iran’s leadership simultaneously. Mazaher Hosseini, identified as head of protocol in Ali Khamenei’s office, described the strike during a March 12 meeting in Tehran.
He stated that Mojtaba Khamenei had stepped into the yard shortly before the strike and was returning upstairs when missiles struck. As a result, he sustained a leg injury. Meanwhile, his wife, Zahra Haddad-Adel, and their son were killed instantly.
Furthermore, the recording detailed additional casualties, including Misbah al-Huda Bagheri Kani and Mohammad Shirazi, a senior military official. The strike reportedly hit several parts of the compound at once, including residences linked to the Khamenei family.
Leadership questions intensify after succession
The attack killed Ali Khamenei and triggered a rapid succession process, leading to Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment as supreme leader on March 8. However, his absence from public view has raised concerns about his health and leadership capacity.
In addition, US intelligence reportedly suggested Ali Khamenei opposed his son’s succession, fueling criticism of a hereditary transition. Analysts warn that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could gain greater influence amid ongoing uncertainty.
