Iranian officials say the country’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is safe despite circulating reports that he was injured during the war involving Israel and the United States.
Yousef Pezeshkian, the son of Iran’s president and a government adviser, addressed the rumours in a message posted on his Telegram channel. He said he contacted individuals with knowledge of the situation to verify the reports.
“I heard news that Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured,” Pezeshkian wrote. “I asked some friends who had connections. They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound.”
His statement appears to be the first direct response from a senior figure close to the government regarding speculation about the supreme leader’s condition.
State media references wartime injury
The speculation emerged after Iranian state television described Khamenei as a “wounded veteran of the Ramadan war.” However, the broadcaster did not provide further details about the nature of the reported injury.
Officials have not clarified whether the description referred to a recent incident during the ongoing conflict or to an earlier event.
The reports surfaced amid heightened tensions in the region following the war between Iran and a US-Israeli alliance, which has led to widespread military strikes and retaliatory attacks.
Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the role of supreme leader after the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the early stages of the conflict. The leadership transition placed the 56-year-old cleric at the centre of Iran’s wartime decision-making.
Authorities in Tehran have largely remained silent about his personal security during the conflict. However, Pezeshkian’s statement aims to reassure supporters that the new leader has not been harmed.
The government has continued to project an image of stability despite the ongoing hostilities and political pressure facing the country.
