Tehran — According to a New York Times report cited by ANI, Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has largely stayed out of public view since taking over following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a February 28 strike attributed to the US and Israel.
The report says no audio or video of Mojtaba has been released. His orders have been conveyed instead via social media posts and by officials reading statements on state television. Iranian authorities reportedly prefer this limited exposure so he does not appear vulnerable.
Security around the leader has been intensified. Senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders and other top officials reportedly avoid in-person visits, concerned that their movements could be monitored and used to pinpoint his location.
To reduce the risk of electronic surveillance, the New York Times describes a low-technology system for secure messaging: handwritten notes sealed in envelopes are passed along a chain of trusted couriers. Messengers travel by motorcycle and car over highways and rural roads to an undisclosed hideout, and replies are delivered the same way.
The report quoted an Iranian official saying Mojtaba was severely wounded in the strikes but remains mentally alert. It said his face was injured and required plastic surgery; one leg underwent three operations and is awaiting a prosthetic; an injured hand is slowly regaining function; and facial and lip wounds have made speaking difficult.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is a trained heart surgeon, and the health minister have reportedly been involved in his medical care. The leader is said to be mostly surrounded by medical staff at an undisclosed location.
A post on Mojtaba Khamenei’s X account criticized the reporting as ‘enemy media operations’ intended to ‘undermine unity and national security’ after details of his injuries appeared in the press.
The coverage comes amid a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran following intense regional clashes. Tensions remain high, with a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz and stalled diplomacy: Iran declined to attend a second round of talks in Pakistan, citing demands that include recognition of its nuclear rights.
This summary is based on the New York Times reporting as carried by ANI.
