Related videos:
The current new supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Mojtaba Jamenei, was injured during the military offensive on February 28, in which his father and predecessor, Ali Jamenei, was killed, according to a report in the last few hours by The New York Times.
The injuries sustained during that attack would explain why Mojtaba has not appeared in public or made any statements since he was appointed to lead the country, amidst the war that Iran is facing against the United States and Israel.
The information was also confirmed by the Iranian ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, who stated that Mojtaba Jamenei was with his father at the time of the attack.
“Ayatollah Mojtaba Jamenei has been injured because he was next to his father”, declared the diplomat during a press conference reported by the Mexican media.
Wounded on the first day of the offensive
According to The New York Times - citing three Iranian officials - the new supreme leader suffered several injuries, particularly to his legs.
The attack resulted in the death of Ali Jamenei, who had led the Islamic Republic for decades, and marked the beginning of a military escalation that has unleashed open warfare in the region.
According to the American newspaper, Mojtaba Jamenei has not issued any written or recorded messages, nor has he appeared in public since being appointed by the Iranian clerics as his father's successor.
Iranian officials cited by the newspaper stated that this is due both to the injuries sustained in the attack and to strict security measures, as any communication could reveal their location.
Sources indicated that the new leader is taking refuge in a safe location, with limited communications.
Israeli intelligence also confirms it
The report from The New York Times states that two Israeli military officials confirmed that Israeli intelligence had already assessed that Mojtaba Jamenei sustained leg injuries on the first day of the war.
The fact that he has not appeared publicly since then has fueled speculation about his health and about how power is being exercised in Tehran amid the conflict.
Some reports also indicate that the attack that killed Ali Jamenei also resulted in several casualties within the family circle, which heightened the political and symbolic impact of the bombing.
Versions regarding his health status
Although reports indicate that the new leader was injured, some voices close to the Iranian government have insisted that his condition is not serious.
Yusef Pezeshkian, son of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and advisor to the government, affirmed that Jamenei is out of danger.
"I heard the news that Mojtaba Jamenei had been injured. I asked friends who have contacts, and they have told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound," he wrote on the social network Telegram.
The Iranian ambassador to Mexico, for his part, stated that the swift appointment of a successor following the death of Ali Khamenei aims to demonstrate that the political structure of the Islamic Republic remains intact despite the attacks.
“Through attacks, they will not change the country's policies. Even if they kill the leader, the policies will continue with greater force,” stated Pasandideh.
The diplomat also ruled out any negotiations with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump following the bombings against Iranian territory.
According to Pasandideh, Iran will not accept surrender conditions and will respond to any threat against its territory.
A leader shrouded in mystery
Mojtaba Jamenei, 56 years old, has been a discreet figure within the Iranian political system for years.
Unlike other religious leaders in the country, he has never held visible public office, although various investigations closely link him to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the powerful military body that wields significant political and economic influence.
His silence since being appointed Supreme Leader, combined with reports of the injuries he sustained during the attack that killed his father, has contributed to reinforcing the mystery surrounding his figure at a time when Iran is experiencing one of the most tense episodes in its recent history.
Filed under: