Wounded But Watchful: Iran’s New Supreme Leader Survives Assassination Strike
Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei remains in a secure location after sustaining injuries during the 28 February air strike. Although he has not appeared in public since his weekend appointment, government officials now insist that the leader is “safe.”
The Iranian president’s son and government advisor, Yousef Pezeshkian, broke the silence regarding the leader’s health on Wednesday. “I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections,” Pezeshkian wrote on Telegram. He subsequently confirmed their positive response, stating, “They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound.”
Mojtaba assumed power on Sunday following the assassination of his father, Ali Khamenei, during a US-Israeli air strike. While state media initially remained quiet, Alireza Salarian, Tehran’s ambassador to Cyprus, provided further clarity to The Guardian. “He was also there and he was injured in that bombardment but I haven’t seen that reflected in the foreign news,” Salarian remarked.
Details of the Attack
The devastating strike on the central Tehran compound claimed several members of the Khamenei family, including Mojtaba’s wife and mother. Consequently, online speculation regarding his possible death intensified until the recent official updates confirmed his survival. The New York Times reported that Khamenei “had suffered injuries, including to his legs, but that he was alert and sheltering at a highly secure location.”
While pro-government demonstrators brandish his image at rallies, deep domestic opposition remains visible through night-time protests in the capital. Analysts suggest the leader will remain underground to avoid further assassination attempts by Israeli and American forces.
Emile Hokayem, of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, expects him “to sit in a bunker somewhere for a very long time.” Hokayem noted that “Killing him early is certainly an Israeli priority. If he survives, he becomes a totem, a testimony to the resilience of the system.”
As Khamenei recovers, experts believe he will delegate government administration to Ali Larijani and war efforts to Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Meanwhile, international tension rises as US President Donald Trump warned that Khamenei’s leadership remains “unacceptable” to the United States. “If he doesn’t get approval from us he’s not going to last long,” Trump told ABC News.
