Mojtaba Khamenei suffers serious injuries amid uncertainty about his health condition

Three sources close to the inner circle of Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei told Reuters that he is still recovering from severe facial and leg injuries sustained in the airstrike that killed his father at the start of the war.

The three sources said Khamenei's face was disfigured in the attack on the Supreme Leader's compound in central Tehran, and he suffered severe injuries to one or both of his legs.

However, the three sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, indicated that Khamenei is recovering from his injuries and remains in good mental condition.

Two of them said he participates in meetings with senior officials via audio conferences and is involved in decision-making on key issues, including the war and negotiations with Washington.

The question of whether Khamenei’s health allows him to run the affairs of state comes at a time when Iran is going through its most serious crisis in decades, with peace talks with the United States beginning in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Saturday, the outcome of which is unpredictable.

Accounts from those close to Khamenei's inner circle offer the most detailed description of the Supreme Leader's condition in weeks. Reuters has not been able to independently verify these accounts.

There is still great mystery surrounding Khamenei’s whereabouts, condition, and ability to rule in the eyes of the public, as no picture, video, or audio recording of him has been published since the air strike that followed his appointment as his father’s successor on March 8.

Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to Reuters' questions about the extent of Khamenei's injuries or why he has not yet appeared in any photos or recordings.

Khamenei was wounded on February 28, the first day of the war waged by the United States and Israel, in the attack that killed his father, Ali Khamenei, who had ruled since 1989. Mojtaba Khamenei's wife, his son-in-law, and his sister-in-law were among the other family members who died in the raid.

The accounts regarding Khamenei’s injuries are consistent with a statement made by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on March 13, in which he said that Khamenei “was injured and his features were likely disfigured.”

A source familiar with US intelligence assessments told Reuters that there is a belief that Khamenei has lost one of his legs.

The CIA declined to comment on Khamenei's condition. The Israeli Prime Minister's office did not respond to questions.