In a rare comment about the health of Mojtaba Khamenei, the government of Iran made a statement on Monday (25/05), with an Iranian official characterizing as “superficial” the injuries suffered by the supreme leader from American-Israeli strikes on the first day of the war. It should be recalled that on February 28th – which marks the first day of the joint US-Israel attack against Iran – Ali Khamenei was killed, with the 56-year-old Mojtaba succeeding his father. However, after his ascension to power on March 8th, he has not appeared publicly, limiting himself to issuing written statements.
Iran: The announcement about Mojtaba Khamenei’s health condition
Regarding the health condition of Iran’s new religious leader, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had said in April that “he has been injured and is likely disfigured.”
However, today, Iran’s Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour revealed that Mojtaba Khamenei was admitted to hospital at 13:00 on February 28th and was transferred “to surgery, along with many other casualties”. “Apart from superficial injuries to his face, head and legs, which required no amputation nor caused complications, there was nothing serious,” the spokesperson added, according to Ilna news agency. “As a doctor, I believe these were not serious injuries, no surgical intervention was needed, just one or two stitches,” he said. Moreover, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was observing Ramadan, refused to eat food until breaking his fast in the evening, “which shows he was in good health,” Kermanpour commented.
The supreme leader was discharged on March 1st. On May 7th, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he met with him for two and a half hours. Three days later, state television reported that the commander of Iranian armed forces, Ali Abdollahi, also met with Khamenei, who gave “new directives” for continuing military operations.
