Mojtaba Khamenei, who was elected Iran's supreme leader to succeed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, was reportedly seriously injured. Mojtaba, Khamenei's second son, has not appeared in public since being chosen as the new leader.
On the 11th (local time), CNN and the New York Times (NYT) reported that Mojtaba fractured his foot in the first round of U.S. and Israeli strikes on the 28th of last month. Citing sources, CNN said Mojtaba also had bruising around his left eye and suffered minor lacerations to his face. Three Iranian officials who requested anonymity told the NYT, "Mojtaba injured his leg and other areas, but he is conscious," adding, "We were told he has taken shelter in a top-level secure facility with restricted communications."
An Iranian government official also formally confirmed Mojtaba's injuries. Alireza Salarian, Iran's ambassador to Cyprus, said in an interview with the Guardian that Mojtaba was injured in an airstrike on the 28th of last month, the first day of the war. Ambassador Salarian added that it was "a stroke of luck" that Mojtaba survived the strike that hit Khamenei's residence. In that strike, six members of the family, including Khamenei, Mojtaba's father, as well as his wife and son, were reported killed.
Ambassador Salarian said, "He was there as well, and I was told that he was injured in the bombing at the time and suffered wounds to his leg, hand and arm," adding, "I think he was hospitalized because of his injuries." He went on to say that the reason Mojtaba has not appeared in public is that "he does not seem to be in a stable condition to deliver a speech."
Earlier, Iran's state broadcaster, on the 9th, a day after Mojtaba was elected Iran's supreme leader, referred to Mojtaba as a "Ramadan janbaz," in a report that seemed to imply he was wounded in the ongoing war. In Persian, janbaz means a wounded war veteran.