Iran Details Surface-Level Injuries of Leader Mojtaba Khamenei After US-Israeli Strikes

As Iran nears signing a deal to end hostilities with the United States, Tehran has released a rare account regarding the nature of injuries sustained by its leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

An official from Iran's Ministry of Health stated on Monday that the injuries Khamenei suffered during US-Israeli airstrikes at the end of February were only "superficial."

The 56-year-old leader has not appeared publicly since assuming his position following the death of his father, former leader Ali Khamenei, on the first day of the attack on Iran that triggered the Middle East war.

Mojtaba's communications have been limited to written statements, which has fueled speculation about his health condition.

In March, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described Mojtaba Khamenei as "wounded" and "likely disfigured."

Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour provided details about the day of Mojtaba's injury and his hospital admission, though he did not specify the hospital's name.

Kermanpour said that Mojtaba arrived at the hospital around 1 p.m. Tehran time on February 28 and "entered the operating room along with several other wounded individuals."

The Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) quoted Kermanpour as stating, "Apart from superficial wounds on the face, head, and legs, no amputations or other medical complications occurred, and nothing serious happened."

He added, "From my perspective as a doctor, these injuries were not considered serious and did not require any special procedures except for one or two stitches."

Kermanpour mentioned that the leader left the hospital around 2 a.m. on March 1 but did not disclose where he was transferred.

On May 7, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he met with the Supreme Leader, and their meeting lasted two and a half hours.

Three days later, Iranian state television reported that Ali Abdullah Aliabadi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters—the central operations room of Iran's armed forces—had met with Mojtaba Khamenei.

The US network CBS News had reported that the delay in announcing a deal was due to the Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

The network cited informed US officials who said that the Iranian leader is effectively confined in a secret location with limited access to the outside world and can only be reached through a complex network of intermediaries.

Iranian officials authorized to engage with the Trump administration face difficulties communicating within their own government system, which is the main reason for the slow emergence of details about a potential deal with Iran and previous agreements.

Two US officials noted that "when the United States sends proposed details, the difficulty in reaching Mojtaba Khamenei means there could be a long delay before the US receives a response."