Reuters: Iran’s New Leader Wounded, Likely Disfigured
Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is still recovering from serious injuries to his face and legs sustained in an air strike at the start of the war on 28 February that killed his father and other family members, three people close to him told Reuters.
Khamenei suffered facial disfigurement and serious injuries to one or both legs in the attack on the supreme leader’s compound in central Tehran, the sources said.
The 56-year-old leader is recovering and remains mentally fit, they said. He continues to be involved in decision-making on key issues, including the war and negotiations with Washington via audio conferences.
Information on his condition cannot be independently verified. His whereabouts, health and ability to govern remain unclear to the public. No photograph or recording has been released since the attack and his appointment on 8 March.
A source close to him indicated that photographs could be released within one to two months or that he could appear in public when his health and security situation permits.
Official Iranian sources have not commented on the extent of his injuries, but state television described him as a “janbaz”, a term for someone badly wounded in war.