Iran has provided details for the first time about the injuries sustained by Mojtaba Khamenei, the country's current Supreme Leader, in US and Israeli airstrikes that, at the beginning of the conflict, resulted in the death of his father, Ali Khamenei. An Iranian official confirmed that Khamenei suffered injuries to his kneecap and back , but added that he is in good health. The WSJ reports that this news emerged from a video posted on social media by Nour, a news agency linked to Iran's Supreme National Security Council. Yesterday, CNN reported that US intelligence believes Khamenei is crucial to Iran's strategy.
The health update on Iran's Supreme Leader was provided by Mazaher Hosseini, identified in the video as the coordinator of high-level government meetings. The young leader's wife also died in the same attack that killed his father, Hosseini added. US officials, however, described Khamenei's injuries as serious: he has not appeared in public since February 28, when Israel and the United States launched a series of coordinated attacks. Hosseini stated that Khamenei's knee will soon heal and that his back problem has now resolved.
Khamenei also has a small cut behind his ear , which has already been treated but is invisible because it is covered by his turban, Hosseini said. Khamenei's absence from the public eye has fueled speculation that he is not involved in the day-to-day running of the government. Iranian officials have, however, explained that Khamenei is keeping a low profile for personal security reasons . In the video, Hosseini stated that Khamenei will address the Iranian people "at the appropriate time."
(Unioneonline)