Mojtaba Khamenei Suffers Severe Facial Injuries from US-Israel Attack

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is still recovering from severe injuries to his face and legs sustained in the US-Israel airstrike that killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the start of the war. Information on the 56-year-old cleric’s condition, as reported by Reuters on Saturday (11/4/2026), was provided to Reuters by three individuals close to Mojtaba’s inner circle. According to these three sources, Mojtaba’s face was severely damaged in the attack on the Supreme Leader’s residence complex in central Tehran at the end of February, and he suffered significant injuries to one or both of his legs. Nevertheless, according to these sources, Mojtaba is recovering from his injuries and retains his mental acuity. He is said to be participating in meetings with senior Iranian officials via audio conference and is involved in decision-making on major issues, including the war and negotiations with the US. Questions about whether Mojtaba’s health allows him to conduct state affairs have arisen at a time when Iran faces its greatest danger in decades, with high-stakes peace talks with the US scheduled to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, on Saturday (11/4). Statements from individuals close to Mojtaba’s inner circle provide the most detailed picture of the Supreme Leader’s condition in recent weeks. These statements could not be independently verified by Reuters. Mojtaba’s presence, condition, and ability to govern Iran remain a mystery to the public. No photos, videos, or audio recordings of him have been released since the airstrike that injured him and his appointment to replace his late father on 8 March. Iran’s diplomatic mission at the United Nations (UN) did not respond to Reuters’ questions about the severity of Mojtaba’s injuries or the reasons why he has not yet appeared in any images or video footage. One individual close to Mojtaba’s inner circle said that photos of Iran’s Supreme Leader would be released in the next 1-2 months, and that he might appear before the public at that time. Although the three sources cited by Reuters emphasised that Mojtaba would only appear when his health and the security situation permit. Regardless, Mojtaba’s absence from public view has been widely discussed on Iranian social media and messaging app groups, amid unstable internet in the country. Conspiracy theories about his condition and who is actually leading the country have emerged and spread widely. One popular meme circulating online features an image of an empty chair under spotlights with the slogan “Where is Mojtaba?”. However, some government supporters, including a senior member of the Basij militia – a volunteer paramilitary group run by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard – said it is important for Mojtaba to remain out of the spotlight, given the threat of US and Israeli airstrikes that have eliminated much of the country’s leadership.