March 12, 2026 | 06:50 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was injured in a missile attack on February 28 that killed his father, the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several members of his family, according to Iran's ambassador to Cyprus, Alireza Salarian.
The attack occurred during a US-led air campaign targeting Iran, when the supreme leader's residential compound in central Tehran was hit. The attack reportedly flattened the residence where several members of Khamenei's family were gathered.
Salarian, in an interview with The Guardian, as quoted by Mint, confirmed that Mojtaba Khamenei was present during the attack and survived, albeit with injuries.
"He was also there and he was injured in that bombardment but I haven’t seen that reflected in the foreign news," Salarian said.
Injuries and Hospitalization
According to the ambassador, the newly appointed leader suffered injuries to several parts of his body and is believed to be receiving medical treatment.
" have heard that he was injured in his legs and hand and arm … I think he is in the hospital because he is injured," Salarian told the outlet.
The injury may explain why Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public or delivered a speech since being elected Iran's new supreme leader.
"I don’t think he is comfortable [in any condition] to give a speech," Salarian added.
Family members among the dead
The attack occurred on the first day of US-led airstrikes against Iran, when the sprawling presidential complex in the heart of Tehran was targeted.
It was the 10th day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the ambassador said, and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was at his residence with several family members, including Mojtaba's wife, Zahra Haddad Adel, and his teenage son, Mohammad Bagher, who were also killed in the attack.
Iranian media reports said that Ali Khamenei's wife, Mansour, died three days after the airstrike.
Iranian Officials Confirm
Earlier this week, Yousef Pezeshkian, senior adviser and son of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, confirmed reports that Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured.
In a Telegram message, he wrote: “I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections. They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound.”
Trump’s Reaction
The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader has drawn criticism from US President Donald Trump, who described the cleric’s selection by Iran’s Assembly of Experts as unacceptable.
“He is not going to last long,” Trump said.
Read: Son of Iranian President Denies Rumor of Mojtaba Khamenei's Injury
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