Mojtaba remains mystery

Agencies Dubai

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is still recovering from severe facial and leg injuries suffered in the airstrike that killed his father at the beginning of the war, three people close to his inner circle told Reuters. Khamenei's face was disfigured in the attack on the Supreme Leader's compound in central Tehran and he suffered a significant injury to one or both legs, all three sources said.

The 56-year-old is nonetheless recovering from his wounds and remains mentally sharp, they said requesting anonymity. He is taking part in meetings with senior officials via audio conferencing and is engaged in decision-making on major issues including the war and negotiations with Washington, two of them said.

The question of whether Khamenei's health allows him to run state affairs comes during Iran's mom­ent of gravest peril for decades, with high-stakes peace talks with the US in Pakistan's Islamabad. The accounts provide the most detailed description of the leader's condition for weeks. Reuters could not independently verify their descriptions.

Khamenei's whereabouts, condition and ability to rule remain a mystery to the public, with no photo, video or audio recording of him published since the air attack and his subsequent appointment as his father's replacement on March 8. 

Khamenei was wounded on Feb 28, the first day of the war launched by the US and Israel, in the attack that killed his father and predecessor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had ruled since 1989. 

The accounts of Khamenei's injuries tally with statements made by US President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth. 

Hegseth on March 13 said the supreme leader was “wounded and likely disfigured”. A source familiar with US intelligence assessments told Reuters that Khamenei was believed to have lost a leg.