The new supreme leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, remains away from public appearances since taking office after the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, in an airstrike conducted by the United States and Israel. According to a report by The New York Times, he was seriously wounded in the same offensive, but remains fully mentally capable.
According to the newspaper, which cites Iranian authorities, Khamenei underwent multiple medical procedures after the bombing that occurred on February 28. Among them, three surgeries on his leg, as well as an intervention on his hand. The condition also includes burns on his face and lips, which have made it difficult for him to speak.
While recovering, the Iranian leader would have temporarily transferred the conduct of strategic decisions to members of the Revolutionary Guards, regarded as the regime’s main ideological and military arm. Communication with Khamenei takes place through written messages, according to the The New York Times.
The newspaper also reports that the leader remains in a location not disclosed for security reasons. The President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, a physician by training, would be directly involved in the clinical monitoring.
The absence of public appearances since his appointment has fed internal and external doubts about his health. Still, sources consulted by the publication say he remains “lucid and active.”
Context of the Attack
The bombing that hit the Iranian leadership occurred at the outset of the military escalation involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The operation resulted in the death of Ali Khamenei and triggered a reorganization of the country’s political leadership.
According to the report, members of the Revolutionary Guards assess that they managed to contain broader risks to the regime’s stability after the conflict began. The continuation of this perception will depend, in part, on the ability to coordinate internally while the new leader remains in recovery.
